Women with breast cancer taking chemotherapy: depression symptoms and treatment adherence

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:to verify depressive symptoms and adherence to chemotherapy among women with breast cancer who are served by the Pharmacy of the Chemotherapy Center of a university hospital.METHOD: cross-sectional study with quantitative approach conducted with 112 women receiving chemotherapy. Structured interviews guided by a script addressing socio-demographic, clinical and therapeutic information, the Morisky Test, and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to collect data. RESULTS: 12.50% and 1.78% of the patients experienced "moderate" and "severe" depression, respectively, while 10.59% did not use antidepressant medication. A statistically significant association was found between levels of depression and the use of antidepressants. Lack of adherence was identified in 46.43% of the participants. CONCLUSION: these findings show the need to regularly screen for depressive symptoms and for adherence to chemotherapy treatment among women with breast cancer, in order to provide early detection and appropriate treatment centered on patients, and to improve their quality of life.

Prognostic Factors of Depression in Patients With Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

“…Zheng reported that duration of disease, stage of disease and metastasis were important factors in depression (10), but in Malekian's study, duration of disease was not associated with depression (9). Recently, the results of Souza's study showed that income, duration of disease and number of surgeries had a significant association with depression (16), which is consistent with our results. This study mentioned that type of treatment was not associated with depression.…”

A comparison of metacognitive factors among patients with cancer and the control group

“…Thus, considering the treatment patient is receiving (ie, chemotherapy vs operation) and screening for metacognitions, which are first indicators of psychological disorders, might enable health practitioners to provide cancer patients with psychological interventions. It appears that those who are in early stages of cancer are in greater need for psychological help and access to services . Findings indicate a clear need for psychological support for patients who undergo chemotherapy.…”

“…It appears that those who are in early stages of cancer are in greater need for psychological help and access to services. 40 Findings indicate a clear need for psychological support for patients who undergo chemotherapy.…”

Idosos em Tratamento Quimioterápico: Relação entre Nível de Estresse, Sintomas Depressivos e Esperança

“…Os profissionais de saúde necessitam ser capacitados para promover uma comunicação de forma segura e esclarecedora, adequando a informação às necessidades específicas de cada paciente, de acordo com sua realidade, capacidade de enfrentamento visão de mundo e posição assumida diante da vida de modo geral (Silva & Santos, 2008, 2010Souza et al, 2014). Em relação ao tratamento, os idosos estudados haviam realizado, em média, 5,8 sessões de quimioterapia.…”