Cancer patients' emotional distress, coping styles and perception of doctor-patient interaction in European cancer settings

Abstract

The study confirms that about one out of three cancer patients have moderate to high level of emotional distress and about one out of four, clinically significant maladaptive coping. Also, patients showing hopelessness and distress tended to perceive their doctors as both disengaged and less supportive. These results highlights the need for physicians to monitor their patient's level of distress and coping mechanisms and to adjust their own relational and communication style according to patients' psychological condition. Also, cross-cultural issues should be taken into account when exploring psychosocial variables and cancer patients' perception of and satisfaction with the interaction with their doctors.

One in two cancer patients is significantly distressed: Prevalence and indicators of distress

“…High rates of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression have been found by using self‐report or screening measures . Thus, emotional distress is common in patients and can be seen as part of the psychological adaptation process to managing the diagnosis of cancer as a stressful life event.…”

Comparison of veterinary health services expectations and perceptions between oncologic pet owners, non-oncologic pet owners and veterinary staff using the SERVQUAL methodology

“…Although negative emotions such as fear, distress are usually associated with a poorer perception of the service [37], in our study, the OG which would probably be associated with those negative emotions actually scored higher in perceptions of the service. These difference could be attributed to the nature of the treatments: Repeated visits and interactions associated with more intensive schedule follow-up in the OG tend to increase client assessment of the service [37,38]. One other possible explanation was that hospital staff could have been more empathetic with members of OG actually providing the best service to these clients than to members of GG explaining the statistical significant differences in the responsiveness and empathy dimensions which are highly dependent on the performance of veterinary staff.…”

High prevalence of persistent emotional distress in desmoid tumor

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] A meta-analysis shows diagnoses of depression, anxiety, or some combination of mood disorders affect up to 20%, 10%, and 30% to 40% of cancer patients, respectively, no matter where they are in their disease trajectory. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] A meta-analysis shows diagnoses of depression, anxiety, or some combination of mood disorders affect up to 20%, 10%, and 30% to 40% of cancer patients, respectively, no matter where they are in their disease trajectory.…”

“…The prevalence of emotional distress amongst cancer patients is high, estimated at between 34% and 60%, and has been associated with worse quality of life, poor treatment compliance, suicidal ideation, and reduced survival outcomes. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] A meta-analysis shows diagnoses of depression, anxiety, or some combination of mood disorders affect up to 20%, 10%, and 30% to 40% of cancer patients, respectively, no matter where they are in their disease trajectory. 9 However, there is limited knowledge of psychological distress in benign tumors.…”