Ways of Coping and Psychological Well-Being in Cancer Patient: A Comparative Study Between Concealed and Unconcealed Patients

Abstract

Persons with cancer have to go through many painful conditions, face with new and challenging situations the illness brought to their life. Subsequently, all must cope with new stressors; in dealing with the changed situation (s) they might feel loss of control over their life events. Moreover, if the patients are involved in treatment process, it may add up more stress. However, at times, patients with advanced cancer also do desire information on risks and prognosis. Therefore, determining ways of coping with challenges in life posed by cancer and also comparing psychological wellbeing between patients who do not know (Concealed group) and who know about the diagnosis (Unconcealed group) will be helpful in developing a better treatment plans for cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODSA total of seventy six (76) cancer patients visiting Department of Radiotherapy, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, during February 2014 to December 2014 were enrolled in this study. The total patients were divided into two groups of equal number i.e. 36 each for concealed and unconcealed groups and both the groups were administered the semi-structured questionnaire, Ways of Coping (Folkman S and Lazarus RS, 1985) and The Psychological Wellbeing Index (Dupuy, 1984) and the data were analysed using SPSS version 20.0. RESULTSComparison on the patients' ways of coping and also on psychological wellbeing schedule shows no significant difference between the two study groups i.e. concealed and unconcealed groups. Findings on ways of coping subscales are confronting (p=.340), distancing (p=.928), self-control (p=.808), seeking social support (p=.868), accepting responsibility (p=.692), escape-avoidance (p=.941), planful problem solving (p=.106), and positive reappraisal (p=.390), and relation between the two study groups on psychological wellbeing schedule subscales are anxiety (p=.513), depressed mood (p=.700), positive wellbeing (p=.429), self-control (p=.571), general health (p=.947), vitality (p=.877), and global score (p=.671).