Objectives Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients may be at high risk of experiencing psychological distress because their diagnosis came during a key time of consolidation of identity and social growth. This study aimed (1) to examine the prevalence of psychological distress among AYA cancer patients within a year of diagnosis to long-term survivors and (2) to describe socio-demographic and cancer-related characteristics associated with psychological distress. Methods In a cross-sectional web-based survey, patients who scored 5 or more on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale were assessed for significant psychological distress. Logistic regression examined whether demographics, clinical variables, and social support were associated with psychological distress. Results A total of 206 young adult cancer patients participated. The median age at the survey was 34.5 years (range: 22–39 years), and 87.4% were female. The prevalence of psychological distress was 55.3%. Psychological distress among patients diagnosed within a year and long-term survivors (≥10 years since diagnosis) was significantly higher than patients 1–4 years since diagnosis. Pain, decrease in income after a cancer diagnosis, experience of negative change in work/school after a cancer diagnosis and poor social support were significantly associated with psychological distress. Significance of results Over half of young adult patients had significant psychological distress in Japan. Our findings potentially contribute to the intervention components for distress management among AYA cancer survivors.
ObjectiveEven though vaccines have become widespread, there is an explosion of infection due to the emergence of new mutant strains, and support for healthcare providers’ mental health is necessary. The aims of this study were to explore factors associated with the psychological distress, and to determine the degree of association between moral distress, resilience and psychological distress in order to consider intervention models for psychological distress of healthcare providers involved with cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodWe conducted a cross-sectional survey among healthcare providers at the National Cancer Center, Japan. Psychological distress was assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We also assessed moral distress using the Moral Distress Thermometer and resilience using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 in April and May 2020 which was the first surge of the epidemic period.ResultsFive hundred sixty-six of 3,900 healthcare providers (14.5%) responded. Sixty-eight percent (385/566) responders were above the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale cutoff. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that nurses, allied health professionals and office workers/engineers (odds ratio = 4.63; 95% confidence interval 1.90–11.29; p < 0.001, odds ratio = 3.88; 95% confidence interval 1.88–8.00; p < 0.001, odds ratio = 2.10; 95% confidence interval 1.06–4.18; p < 0.05) as well as healthcare providers with low resilience (odds ratio = 0.88; 95% confidence interval 0.85–0.91; p < 0.001) were at risk of psychological distress. Moral distress was not significantly associated with prevalence of psychological distress.ConclusionDuring the first surge of the pandemic, a high prevalence of psychological distress was demonstrated among cancer center healthcare providers. The study suggests that mental health care should be available to cancer care providers. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is still going on, in addition to the efforts by our facilities, we should consider interventions that promote resilience and a feasibility study of these interventions.
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