Psychological distress and associated factors among Palestinian advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study
ObjectiveThere is limited research exploring the experiences of people living with advanced cancer in the Gaza Strip (GS), Palestine. Thus, this study aimed to determine the level of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression among advanced cancer patients in the GS and identify factors associa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1061327/full |
| _version_ | 1797987487225741312 |
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| author | Hammoda Abu-Odah Hammoda Abu-Odah Alex Molassiotis Alex Molassiotis Ivy Y. Zhao Jing Jing Su Matthew J. Allsop |
| author_facet | Hammoda Abu-Odah Hammoda Abu-Odah Alex Molassiotis Alex Molassiotis Ivy Y. Zhao Jing Jing Su Matthew J. Allsop |
| author_sort | Hammoda Abu-Odah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveThere is limited research exploring the experiences of people living with advanced cancer in the Gaza Strip (GS), Palestine. Thus, this study aimed to determine the level of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression among advanced cancer patients in the GS and identify factors associated with a high level of distress.Materials and methodsA secondary analysis was performed using primary data from a larger study focusing on supportive care needs in advanced cancer patients in GS. Three hundred sixty-one patients agreed to participate and filled out the Distress Thermometer (DT) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with high distress levels.ResultsOver two-thirds of advanced cancer patients (70.6%) reported a high level of distress. They also reported a significantly higher distress level than patients with early cancer (96.5 vs. 3.5%; p = 0.001). About 92.8% of participants reported depression and anxiety symptoms. Physical, emotional, and practical problems were the primary sources of distress. Breast cancer patients were more likely to have psychological distress than colon and stomach cancer patients. Newly diagnosed patients had a higher level of anxiety, depression, and distress than those who had a cancer diagnosis for an extended period.ConclusionPatients with advanced cancer in the GS exhibited a significantly higher level of psychological distress, depression and anxiety than patients with advanced cancer elsewhere. Efforts should be made to identify psychological distress as a routine part of oncology practice. Future research should further explore the causes of psychological distress in cancer patients in conflict zones and feasible mitigation strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:48:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35eecdce8d514195a677ef110494eac2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:48:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-35eecdce8d514195a677ef110494eac22022-12-22T04:36:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-12-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.10613271061327Psychological distress and associated factors among Palestinian advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional studyHammoda Abu-Odah0Hammoda Abu-Odah1Alex Molassiotis2Alex Molassiotis3Ivy Y. Zhao4Jing Jing Su5Matthew J. Allsop6School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaNursing and Health Sciences Department, University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS), Gaza, PalestineSchool of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaCollege of Arts, Humanities and Education, University of Derby, Derby, United KingdomSchool of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSchool of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaAcademic Unit of Palliative Care, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United KingdomObjectiveThere is limited research exploring the experiences of people living with advanced cancer in the Gaza Strip (GS), Palestine. Thus, this study aimed to determine the level of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression among advanced cancer patients in the GS and identify factors associated with a high level of distress.Materials and methodsA secondary analysis was performed using primary data from a larger study focusing on supportive care needs in advanced cancer patients in GS. Three hundred sixty-one patients agreed to participate and filled out the Distress Thermometer (DT) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with high distress levels.ResultsOver two-thirds of advanced cancer patients (70.6%) reported a high level of distress. They also reported a significantly higher distress level than patients with early cancer (96.5 vs. 3.5%; p = 0.001). About 92.8% of participants reported depression and anxiety symptoms. Physical, emotional, and practical problems were the primary sources of distress. Breast cancer patients were more likely to have psychological distress than colon and stomach cancer patients. Newly diagnosed patients had a higher level of anxiety, depression, and distress than those who had a cancer diagnosis for an extended period.ConclusionPatients with advanced cancer in the GS exhibited a significantly higher level of psychological distress, depression and anxiety than patients with advanced cancer elsewhere. Efforts should be made to identify psychological distress as a routine part of oncology practice. Future research should further explore the causes of psychological distress in cancer patients in conflict zones and feasible mitigation strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1061327/fulladvanced canceranxietydepressionGazapsychological distress |
| spellingShingle | Hammoda Abu-Odah Hammoda Abu-Odah Alex Molassiotis Alex Molassiotis Ivy Y. Zhao Jing Jing Su Matthew J. Allsop Psychological distress and associated factors among Palestinian advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study Frontiers in Psychology advanced cancer anxiety depression Gaza psychological distress |
| title | Psychological distress and associated factors among Palestinian advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Psychological distress and associated factors among Palestinian advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Psychological distress and associated factors among Palestinian advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychological distress and associated factors among Palestinian advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Psychological distress and associated factors among Palestinian advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | psychological distress and associated factors among palestinian advanced cancer patients a cross sectional study |
| topic | advanced cancer anxiety depression Gaza psychological distress |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1061327/full |
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