Coping strategy among the women with metastatic breast cancer attending a palliative care unit of a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background Breast cancer is one of the leading cancers among the Bangladeshi women. Coping helps these patients to adjust with this life-changing disease. Each individual has unique and different coping mechanism. But we know a little regarding their coping strategies. This study aims to explore the different coping strategies adopted by the women with metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer attending the palliative care unit and their relationship with the common mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 95 patients with metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer attending the Department of Palliative Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh from April 2021 to September 2021. Data was collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire adapted from Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale (HADS), Brief COPE inventory and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance scale. Pearson correlation test was used to find the relationships between various domains of coping strategies and psychological variables. Correlation matrix was done to observe the internal correlation among different coping strategies. Kruskal-Wallis H test was done to find the relationship between different coping strategies and ECOG performance status. Result The mean age of the respondents was 48.9 ± 9.9 years. Most of them were married (94.7%), Muslim (92.6%) and homemakers (82.1%). Commonly used coping strategies by the patients were: acceptance (median 10; IQR 10), religion (median 9; IQR 8–10) and instrumental support (median 9; IQR 6–10). Significantly strong positive correlation was found between emotional and instrumental support (R = 0.7; p = 0.01), planning, acceptance and active coping (R = 0.7; p = 0.01); behavioral disengagement, self distraction and denial (R = 0.5; p = 0.01). Significantly fair negative correlation was observed between active coping and depression (R = -0.4, p <0.001). Patients with better performance status on ECOG scale (Grade 0–2) leaned more on the positive coping strategies like instrumental support, emotional support, positive reframing and venting. Conclusion Different coping strategies, especially positive coping helps the patients to adapt with their disease over time. All women suffering from breast cancer should be routinely screened and assessed for psychological distress and ensure early intervention and management to promote a better quality of life.

Validation of Bengali version of EORTC QLQ-SWB32: A standalone measure of spiritual wellbeing for advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care

“…Also, patients who actively performed religious rituals and had affiliations with religious/spiritual communities scored higher on the Global SWB scale. In a previous study among Bangladeshi breast cancer patients, it was found that religion is the most commonly adopted coping mechanism by advanced cancer patients [ 29 ]. Religion plays an important role in spiritual coping.…”

O Impacto Da Depressão Pós-Parto Na Saúde Da Mulher

“…A partir da revisão dos artigos, Ranieri et al (2022) 2023), as mulheres à medida que aceitam as alterações corporais de forma positiva, conseguem ter uma melhor aceitação de autoimagem corporal, proporcionando a elas continuar a terem uma vida e relacionamentos saudáveis. E quanto a este enfrentamento a aceitação da realidade dos resultados é comum, apesar de ainda haver grupos de mulheres com CA de mama que insistem na persistência de negação do diagnóstico e não adesão terapêutica, por medo, insegurança ou por vezes, a falta de apoio, que acaba dificultando a adesão ao tratamento, promovendo adversidades da patologia (ISLAM et al, 2023).…”

Illness Denial in Medical Disorders: A Systematic Review

“…Many studies have been conducted to assess whether illness denial was a determinant of health attitudes and behavior in patients with cancer [1, 28,[130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][141][142][143][144][145][146][147][148] [1, 28,[130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][141][142][143][144][145][146][147][148]. In particular, Lynch and Krush [138] showed that factors contributing to delay (defined as an interval of 3 months or longer between the time an individual first notices signs or symptoms of cancer and the time he/she seeks medical attention) in a heterogeneous sample of patients with various forms of cancer included attitudes of denial.…”