Author/Authors :
Amel Roya Roya نويسنده Student Research Assembly, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran Amel Roya Roya , Taghizadeh Ali نويسنده Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , Pourali Leila نويسنده Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , Vaziri Zahra نويسنده Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , Saedi Hamid Reza نويسنده Department of Radiotherapy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran , Behdani Fatemeh نويسنده Department of Psychiatry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Psychological distress is a type of mental stress that people experience
due to various causes. This study aims to investigate psychological distress in cancer
patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed during one year on cancer
patients who referred to two academic hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of
Medical Sciences for treatment or follow-up. We used the psychological distress
questionnaire for data collection. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 16.
P < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Patients had a mean ±SD age of 54±15.30 years (range: 18 to 89). The most
common cancers were colorectal, gastroesophageal, and breast. Patients had a mean
distress thermometer score of 5±2.99. Out of 256 patients, 173 (67.7%) scored 4 or higher.
The distress thermometer scores were higher among females, rural residents, patients
treated within the previous month, patients with insight of their illness, those with low
education levels and low functional status, non-smokers, and divorced patients. A
significant relationship existed between patients who had insight of their illness,
received treatment in the previous month, and low functional status with the psychological
distress score. The most prevalent cause of psychological distress among the participants
was fatigue (68.8%), followed by pain (59.4%), difficulty in transportation (59.4%),
anxiety (57.2%), sadness (50.4%), anger (44.5%), and depression (43.8%).
Conclusion: The results of this study have revealed higher rates of severe
psychological distress in women, rural residents, patients with low educational and
functional status, drug abusers, and divorced patients. Therefore, early detection of
psychological distress and appropriate interventions among these groups of patients is
of cardinal importance. The most prevalent causes of psychological distress among the
patients in the current study are fatigue and pain. We recommend that supportive and
palliative care be implemented to reduce both the pain and enhance the functional status
of cancer patients.
