Dignity and psychosocial related variables in elderly advanced cancer patients

Abstract Introduction Most cancers occur in older individuals, who are more vulnerable due to functional impairment, multiple comorbidities, cognitive impairment, and lack of socio-familial support. These can undermine patients’ sense of dignity. This study seeks to compare dignity scores in older p...

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Main Authors: Carla M. Martín-Abreu, Raquel Hernández, Patricia Cruz-Castellanos, Ana Fernández-Montes, David Lorente-Estellés, Helena López-Ceballos, Lorena Ostios-Garcia, Mónica Antoñanzas, Paula Jiménez-Fonseca, Teresa García-García, Caterina Calderon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-09-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03423-7
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author Carla M. Martín-Abreu
Raquel Hernández
Patricia Cruz-Castellanos
Ana Fernández-Montes
David Lorente-Estellés
Helena López-Ceballos
Lorena Ostios-Garcia
Mónica Antoñanzas
Paula Jiménez-Fonseca
Teresa García-García
Caterina Calderon
author_facet Carla M. Martín-Abreu
Raquel Hernández
Patricia Cruz-Castellanos
Ana Fernández-Montes
David Lorente-Estellés
Helena López-Ceballos
Lorena Ostios-Garcia
Mónica Antoñanzas
Paula Jiménez-Fonseca
Teresa García-García
Caterina Calderon
author_sort Carla M. Martín-Abreu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Most cancers occur in older individuals, who are more vulnerable due to functional impairment, multiple comorbidities, cognitive impairment, and lack of socio-familial support. These can undermine patients’ sense of dignity. This study seeks to compare dignity scores in older patients with advanced cancer on sociodemographic and clinical variables and analyze the predictive value of anxiety, depression, functional limitations, and social support on dignity scores. Methods A prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted with participation of 15 hospitals in Spain from February 2020 to October 2021. Patients with newly-diagnosed, advanced cancer completed the dignity (PPDS), anxiety and depression (BSI), Social Support (Duke–UNC-11), and functional limitations (EORTC-C30) scales. Lineal regression analyses explored the effects of anxiety, depression, functional status, and social support on dignity, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Results A total of 180 subjects participated in this study. The results of the correlation analysis revealed that dignity correlated negatively with anxiety, depression, and sex, and positively with social support, functional status, and longer estimated survival. Thus, women, and more anxious and depressed individuals scored lower on the dignity scale, whereas patients with more social support, fewer functional limitations, and longer estimated survival scored higher. Conclusion In conclusion, being female, having a lower educational level, lower estimated survival, depression, anxiety, less social support, and limited functionality are correlated with less dignity in the elderly with advanced cancer. It is a priority to manage both physical and psychological symptoms in patients with unresectable advanced cancer to mitigate psychological distress and increase their sense of dignity.
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spelling doaj.art-aceea7aa04dc4069a1e40a42335e61f62022-12-22T04:24:51ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182022-09-012211810.1186/s12877-022-03423-7Dignity and psychosocial related variables in elderly advanced cancer patientsCarla M. Martín-Abreu0Raquel Hernández1Patricia Cruz-Castellanos2Ana Fernández-Montes3David Lorente-Estellés4Helena López-Ceballos5Lorena Ostios-Garcia6Mónica Antoñanzas7Paula Jiménez-Fonseca8Teresa García-García9Caterina Calderon10Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario de CanariasDepartment of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario de CanariasDepartment of Oncology Medical, Hospital Universitario La PazDepartment of Medical Oncology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Ourense – CHUODepartment of Medical Oncology, Hospital Provincial de CastellónDepartment of Medical Oncology, Hospital San Pedro de AlcántaraDepartment of Oncology Medical, Hospital Universitario La PazDepartment of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Clínico San CarlosDepartment of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, ISPADepartment of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Santa LuciaDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of BarcelonaAbstract Introduction Most cancers occur in older individuals, who are more vulnerable due to functional impairment, multiple comorbidities, cognitive impairment, and lack of socio-familial support. These can undermine patients’ sense of dignity. This study seeks to compare dignity scores in older patients with advanced cancer on sociodemographic and clinical variables and analyze the predictive value of anxiety, depression, functional limitations, and social support on dignity scores. Methods A prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted with participation of 15 hospitals in Spain from February 2020 to October 2021. Patients with newly-diagnosed, advanced cancer completed the dignity (PPDS), anxiety and depression (BSI), Social Support (Duke–UNC-11), and functional limitations (EORTC-C30) scales. Lineal regression analyses explored the effects of anxiety, depression, functional status, and social support on dignity, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Results A total of 180 subjects participated in this study. The results of the correlation analysis revealed that dignity correlated negatively with anxiety, depression, and sex, and positively with social support, functional status, and longer estimated survival. Thus, women, and more anxious and depressed individuals scored lower on the dignity scale, whereas patients with more social support, fewer functional limitations, and longer estimated survival scored higher. Conclusion In conclusion, being female, having a lower educational level, lower estimated survival, depression, anxiety, less social support, and limited functionality are correlated with less dignity in the elderly with advanced cancer. It is a priority to manage both physical and psychological symptoms in patients with unresectable advanced cancer to mitigate psychological distress and increase their sense of dignity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03423-7DignityNeoplasmAnxietySocial supportFunctional limitations
spellingShingle Carla M. Martín-Abreu
Raquel Hernández
Patricia Cruz-Castellanos
Ana Fernández-Montes
David Lorente-Estellés
Helena López-Ceballos
Lorena Ostios-Garcia
Mónica Antoñanzas
Paula Jiménez-Fonseca
Teresa García-García
Caterina Calderon
Dignity and psychosocial related variables in elderly advanced cancer patients
BMC Geriatrics
Dignity
Neoplasm
Anxiety
Social support
Functional limitations
title Dignity and psychosocial related variables in elderly advanced cancer patients
title_full Dignity and psychosocial related variables in elderly advanced cancer patients
title_fullStr Dignity and psychosocial related variables in elderly advanced cancer patients
title_full_unstemmed Dignity and psychosocial related variables in elderly advanced cancer patients
title_short Dignity and psychosocial related variables in elderly advanced cancer patients
title_sort dignity and psychosocial related variables in elderly advanced cancer patients
topic Dignity
Neoplasm
Anxiety
Social support
Functional limitations
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03423-7
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