Dyspnea experience in patients with lung cancer in palliative care.

The aim of this study was to describe the dyspnea experience and examine its relation to other symptoms, personal and health-related factors and its predictors in patients with lung cancer. The subjects were 105 patients diagnosed with lung cancer, approached when active anti-tumour treatment was closed. The patients completed a battery of questionnaires about several aspects of dyspnea experience, intensity of other symptoms and coping capacity. Medical data including performance status were obtained from medical records. Above 50% of the patients perceived dyspnea. Coping capacity, performance status and other symptoms correlated with different aspects of dyspnea experience. Dyspnea dimensions and activity-related dyspnea correlated with anxiety, depression, fatigue and cough as well as negatively to coping capacity. Performance status correlated with dyspnea intensity and activity-related dyspnea. Lower coping capacity predicted dyspnea; additional predictors were higher levels of anxiety and fatigue. Dyspnea in this group of patients was a complex experience, including physical and psychological aspects and should preferably be assessed in a comprehensive way. A nursing intervention to decrease dyspnea experience and anxiety could use knowledge from this study about the importance of coping capacity to better help patients with lung cancer to cope in their palliative phase of the disease.     

首次化疗肺癌患者心理反应及相关因素的研究

目的研究影响首次化疗肺癌患者心理反应的因素,为临床实施针对性健康教育提供依据：方法采用焦虑自评量表、抑郁自评量表、社会支持自评量表,对首次接受化疗的80例肺癌患者进行问卷调查一结果首次化疗肺癌患者心理健康水平有所下降.其中,48.75％的患者出现焦虑情绪,41．25％的患者出现抑郁情绪,38．75％的患者焦虑和抑郁并存.性别、年龄、文化程度、社会支持及对支持的利用度与焦虑、抑郁的发生及程度有关.结论对首次化疗肺癌患者进行健康教育,指导其采取有效的应对方式,以降低患者的焦虑、抑郁情绪,增强其对化疗不良反应的承受能力,以促进康复。     

Dyspnea, anxiety, body consciousness, and quality of life in patients with lung cancer

Dyspnea is a common symptom of lung cancer that can impact patient physical, social, and psychological well-being. Study goals were to evaluate quality of life (QOL) and dyspnea in patients with lung cancer and the relationships between QOL, dyspnea, trait anxiety, and body consciousness. Sociodemographic and cancer-related variables (stage, cell type, performance status) were evaluated. One hundred twenty outpatients with stage I-IV lung cancer participated in the study. Patients completed 5 questionnaires assessing QOL, dyspnea, trait anxiety, body consciousness, and pain. Eighty-seven percent of study participants experienced dyspnea. Patients with high dyspnea scores had lower QOL (P = 0.04). Dyspnea was worse in men than in women (P = 0.02), and there was a trend towards older patients reporting more severe dyspnea than younger patients (P = 0.06). There was no difference in dyspnea based on cancer stage, cell type, or performance status. Pain and anxiety scores were higher in patients with high dyspnea (P = 0.02, P = 0.03). Dyspnea was more severe in patients taking opioid analgesics when compared to non-opioids or no pain medications (P = 0.03). No significant association was found between dyspnea, anxiety, and private body consciousness.     

Factors correlated with dyspnea in advanced lung cancer patients: organic causes and what else?

This study aimed to investigate factors correlated with dyspnea in cancer patients among a broad range of medico-psycho-social factors. A total of 171 consecutive outpatients with advanced lung cancer were recruited. Dyspnea was evaluated by using the Cancer Dyspnea Scale, a valid, reliable 12-item self-rating scale developed to assess the multidimensional nature of dyspnea in cancer patients. Possible correlates, including 1) medical (clinical stage, Performance Status, SpO₂, organic causes of dyspnea, other symptoms, such as cough and pain, etc.), 2) psychological (anxiety and depression), and 3) social (education, marital status, existence of confidants, etc.), factors were collected from medical charts, interviews, and self-rating questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis revealed that psychological distress, presence of organic causes, cough, and pain were significantly correlated with dyspnea (P < 0.05, multiple R² = 0.303). The present study confirms that dyspnea is multifactorial and that a beneficial therapeutic strategy might include intervention for psychological distress and pain.     

A pilot study to evaluate an outpatient service for people with advanced lung cancer

Many patients with lung cancer are symptomatic from diagnosis, and quality of life (QoL) may be maximised through the use of specialist palliative care in parallel with other treatments. This study explored anxiety, depression, and QoL in five patients, predominantly male (n=4) and with mean age 74 years, using a 'Breathing Space' clinic over a 4-week period. Breathing Space is a nurse-led multidisciplinary outpatient clinic using integrative care with lung cancer patients. The patients received weekly interventions to improve their wellbeing. Qualitative data were collected to explore their expectations and experiences of the clinic, and quantitative data were captured using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Rating (ECOG-PSR), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the EQ-VAS, and the EQ-5D. These data were analysed using thematic content analysis and SPSS respectively. It was found that preconceived ideas about clinic attendance were replaced with positive impressions. Anxiety and EQ-VAS scores improved for all patients, and depression scores improved for four of the five patients, although no tests of significance were made. The qualitative data indicated that there were psychosocial benefits to attending the clinic.     

Assessing the independent contribution to quality of life from anxiety and depression in patients with advanced cancer

BACKGROUND: The aim of palliative care services is to ensure the best quality of life for patients and their carers. Depression is common amongst palliative care patients and has been shown to adversely affect quality of life. This study aimed to examine the independent contribution of depression to quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothesis that a) illness severity, pain, anxiety and depression are all associated with impaired health-related quality of life and b) once the effects of illness severity have been adjusted for, there is further independent contribution to quality of life from anxiety and depression. METHOD: Consecutive patients with advanced cancer under the care of palliative care services were screened. Sixty-eight patients were evaluated for levels of anxiety and depression, severity of illness, pain severity and health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Thirty-three males and 35 females were recruited and had an age range of 41-93 years (median 71). Seventeen (25%) of patients were anxious [anxiety score > or = 11 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)], 15 (22%) were depressed (HADS depression score > or = 11). After controlling for the effects of pain and illness severity, anxiety and depression were independently associated with global health status, emotional and cognitive functioning, and fatigue. Anxiety further contributed significantly towards social functioning, nausea and vomiting. CONCLUSIONS: This study has confirmed that pain, anxiety and depression were associated with impaired quality of life. Anxiety and depression contributed independently towards various dimensions of quality of life. Longitudinal studies are required to examine the direction of the causal association between pain and depression in patients receiving palliative care.     

Anxiety, depression and coping strategies in post-hysterectomy Chinese women prior to discharge

OBJECTIVE: This survey investigated the relationships among anxiety, depression, coping strategies and demographic characteristics of post-hysterectomy Chinese women before discharge and further determined the best predictors of anxiety and depression among this group. METHODS: The sample consisted of 105 women who were administered, 1-2 days prior to discharge, via one-to-one interview, the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale, the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale, the Brief COPE Scale and a demographic questionnaire. RESULTS: Only 1.9% of the participants experienced anxiety, while 4.8% experienced depression after having a hysterectomy. Active coping, positive reframing, planning, emotional support and venting were the most frequently used coping strategies. Significant positive and negative correlations were found among anxiety, depression, coping strategies and the demographic characteristics of the subjects. The best predictors of anxiety were self-blame, venting and medical payment. The best predictors of depression were self-blame and employment status. CONCLUSION: Self-blame was the predictor of both anxiety and depression. It implied that a patient's negative self-evaluation may influence both psychological status and mental health. The ways of medical payment and employment status were predictors of anxiety and depression respectively, both of which reflected the economic stress that affected the psychological status and quality of life of the Chinese women, post-hysterectomy, before discharge. The findings of this study indicate that care for Chinese women post-hysterectomy, before discharge, should address their physical, psychological, social and economic well-being.     

Relationship between symptoms of depression and anxiety and the quality of life in multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Health-related Quality of Life (QoL) is gaining increasing influence as a relevant evaluation criterium in clinical research. Several studies have investigated QoL in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) and the impact of therapeutic interventions on QoL. However, the influence of psychiatric complications, which occur frequently in MS (e.g. depression and anxiety disorders), on the autoassessment of QoL are hardly ever considered. METHODS: Symptoms of depression and anxiety were rated in 74 outpatients with definite MS. The health-related QoL was assessed and set into relation to physical disability (measured with the Expanded Disability Status Scale) and duration of the disease. The results were compared with 74 normal controls of the same age. RESULTS: A highly significant relationship between emotional state (Zerssen-scale), depression (Zung-depression-scale), anxiety (Zung anxiety scale) and Quality of Life was evident. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical trials assessing Quality of Life in MS patients should consider the frequency of psychiatric comorbidity and the influence of depression and anxiety disorders on self-rated Quality of Life.     

恢复期癌症患者C型行为与心理健康状况的相关性研究

目的调查恢复期癌症患者的C型行为与心理健康状况,并分析二者之间的关系。方法采用C型行为量表、焦虑自评量表和抑郁自评量表对88例恢复期癌症患者进行调查。结果恢复期癌症患者C型行为的焦虑、抑郁得分高于全国常模(P0.01),乐观、社会支持得分低于全国常模(P0.01)。焦虑标准总分和抑郁标准总分均与C型行为的焦虑、愤怒、愤怒向内呈正相关(P0.05)。结论恢复期癌症患者存在严重的焦虑、抑郁情绪,且与其C型行为有关,需特别重视恢复期癌症患者C型行为特征,训练其心理应付方式,纠正过高的期望,增强自信心,努力改善焦虑、抑郁症状;教育患者及其家人共同维护生理功能和心理健康。     

未婚未育年轻女性乳腺癌术后患者焦虑抑郁现状及影响因素分析

目的：探讨未婚未育年轻女性乳腺癌术后患者焦虑抑郁的现状并分析其影响因素,为制订护理干预措施提供理论依据。方法：采用目的取样法,选取天津市某3所三级甲等医院135例未婚未育年轻女性乳腺癌术后患者为研究对象,采用自行设计的一般资料调查表、简易应对方式问卷(SCSQ)、社会支持评定量表(SSRS)和医院焦虑抑郁量表(HAD)进行问卷调查,分析未婚未育年轻女性乳腺癌术后患者焦虑抑郁的影响因素。结果：135例未婚未育年轻女性乳腺癌术后患者焦虑抑郁发生率为45.2%;积极应对得分为（2.11±0.42）分,消极应对得分为（1.58±0.53）分;社会支持总分（37.53±8.21）分;Logistic回归分析显示：家庭人均月收入状况、职业、手术方式、社会支持及积极应对方式是未婚未育年轻女性乳腺癌术后患者发生焦虑抑郁的影响因素。结论：加强对家庭经济收入低、无职业、接受多次化疗、社会支持低及消极应对的未婚未育年轻女性乳腺癌术后患者的护理干预,鼓励患者采取积极应对方式,为其提供全方位、全程的个体化社会支持,降低患者焦虑抑郁的发生率。     

Quality of life among women with breast cancer living in Wuhan,China

BackgroundQuality of life is an important indicator in patients with breast cancer. Studies here reported that the quality of life in patients with breast cancer is low and many factors contribute to this poor quality of life.PurposeTo examine the relationships among demographic characteristics, optimism, social support, illness related factors, appraisal of illness, coping strategies and the quality of life of Chinese women with breast cancer residing in Wuhan, China.MethodsA convenience sample of 156 Chinese women with breast cancer was recruited from five teaching hospitals in Wuhan, China. Participants completed the Revised Life Orientation Test, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Symptom Distress Scale, the Appraisal of Illness Scale, the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast. Path analysis was used to examine factors influencing quality of life.ResultsSignificant relationships were found between optimism, symptom distress, social support, appraisal of illness, a give-in coping mode and quality of life. Optimism, social support, symptom distress, lymph node status, appraisal of illness, and a give-in coping mode accounted for 66.6% of the variance in quality of life.ConclusionsThe findings of this study underscore the importance of helping women reduce symptoms distress, appraise their illness positively, use less negative coping modes, and maintain optimism, maintain good social support, because all of these factors indirectly or directly affect their quality of life.     

社区慢性腰背痛患者自我效能水平及其影响因素

目的调查社区慢性腰背痛患者自我效能水平并分析其影响因素。方法 2014年4月至2015年1月,便利抽样法选取南京市玄武区、栖霞区、河西新区以及常州市天宁区等8个社区的慢性腰背痛患者157例为研究对象,采用一般情况调查表、长海痛尺、慢性病管理自我效能感量表、简易应对方式问卷、简明健康状况量表、中文版恐惧-回避行为量表、社会支持评定量表和综合医院焦虑抑郁量表对其进行调查。结果慢性腰背痛患者自我效能得分为(6.55±1.89)分。患者对于腰背痛感觉描述中使用频率最高的是"痉挛牵扯痛"、"持续固定痛"和"腰痛"。不同婚姻状况及文化程度患者的自我效能评分的差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。慢性腰背痛患者自我效能与其当前疼痛、积极应对、生理功能、生理职能、躯体疼痛、总体健康、活力、社会职能、情感职能、情感健康、恐惧-回避信念总分、社会支持总分、焦虑得分和抑郁得分等14个变量均具有相关性(均P0.05)。多元线性回归结果显示,生理职能、总体健康、社会支持和积极应对是慢性腰背痛患者自我效能的主要影响因素。结论建议相关部门针对社区慢性腰背痛患者自我效能的主要影响因素制定相关政策,从而提高其自我效能水平。     

Quality of Life and Non-Pain Symptoms in Patients with Cancer

To measure the prevalence of non-pain physical symptoms and psychological symptoms in patients with cancer, to investigate the impact of physical and psychological symptoms on their quality of life (QoL), and to inquire whether treatment had been received for the complaints/symptoms, a representative sample of 1,429 cancer patients were recruited and classified according to tumor type and treatment status [i.e., (1a) curative treatment >6 months ago, (1b) curative treatment ≤6 months ago, (2) palliative antitumor treatment, and (3) treatment no longer feasible]. QoL and non-pain symptoms were measured by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-C30 version 3. We added two items: (1) Did you have a dry mouth? and (2) Did you feel listless? We also asked whether the patients had received treatment for their symptoms. Depression and anxiety were measured by the Dutch version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to detect differences in global QoL between patients with different types of cancer. When ANOVA was significant, post hoc tests (Tukey) were performed to identify significant differences among cancer types. Linear regression analyses (forced entrance procedure) were performed to investigate the influence of physical and psychological symptoms on global QoL. The prevalence of moderate-to-severe symptoms increased significantly with each disease group. Vomiting and irritability were the least prevalent symptoms, and fatigue and worries were the most prevalent symptoms in all groups. Patients in Group 1 (curative treatment) experienced symptoms that were independent of cancer type. Patients in Group 2 (palliative treatment) experienced symptoms that varied with cancer type. QoL decreased significantly each step from Group 1 through 3. Fatigue, appetite loss, constipation, dry mouth, depression, and anxiety had independent negative influences on QoL. Patients with gastrointestinal cancer, malignant lymphoma, and other hematological malignancies had significantly poorer QoL than patients with prostate cancer. In 45%–90% of patients, symptoms remained untreated. Non-pain physical symptoms and psychological symptoms are frequent in patients with cancer at all disease phases. Many symptoms remain untreated. Systematic recording of symptom intensity should be mandatory, irrespective of the phase of disease.     

Quality of life of Nigerian stroke survivors during first 12 months post-stroke

There have been few studies on quality of life (QoL) of Nigerian stroke survivors and none have reported QoL over a long period. This study describes QoL in Nigerian stroke survivors over the first 12 months post-stroke. Sixty-five (33 male and 32 female) stroke survivors were recruited within 72 hours of stroke onset. QoL and depression were assessed monthly for 12 months using the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Data were analysed using the KruskaleWallis test, Friedman test and logistic regression. Fifty-five participants (aged 57.4 ± 14.8 years) completed this study. QoL improved significantly from onset to 6 months but nonsignificantly from 6 months to 12 months. Most (85.2%) stroke survivors had severe depression at 1 month. At 3 months, marital status and spousal support had a significant positive influence on QoL. At 6, 9 and 12 months, marital status, spousal support, educational qualification, and occupational status had a significant positive influence on QoL. Depression was a major determinant of QoL at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Our findings suggest that QoL of Nigerian stroke survivors is low at stroke onset, increases steadily during the first 6 months and little between 6 months and 12 months post-stroke; is influenced positively by marital status, spousal support, educational qualification and occupational status; and negatively influenced by age and depression.     

社会心理因素对终末期肾病行腹膜透析患者康复结局的影响

目的:分析社会心理因素对终末期肾病行腹膜透析患者康复结局的影响.方法:选择2005-08/2007-03北京大学第一医院肾内科腹膜透析中心确诊的终末期肾病接受腹膜透析治疗患者171例,男66例,女 105例,年龄(60±13)岁,平均透析时间22.8个月.采用问卷调查与访谈相结合方法对患者的康复结局进行评定:主要利用Karnofsky活力指数评估活动状况;采用社会功能缺陷筛选表评估社会参与状况.评估患者的心理社会因素主要采用Hamilton抑郁、焦虑等级量表、医学应对方式问卷和社会支持评定量表.结果:共发放问卷200份,回收有效问卷171份,占85.5%.本组患者活动正常者134例,占78.4%;存在参与受限者129例,占75.4%;焦虑症状的发生率为24.5%(42例),抑郁症状的发生率为8.2%(15例).本组患者对疾病在采取"屈服"应对方式方面的得分显著高于其他慢性病患者,而"面对"和"回避"两种应对方式的采用与其他患者无统计学差异.将反映康复结局的活动、参与指标作为因变量,社会心理因素中的抑郁焦虑水平、应对方式、社会支持等作为自变量,用多元逐步标准回归篩除法,找出影响康复结局的相关因素,最后进入回归模型的因素为患者的抑郁程度、对疾病采取面对或屈服应对方式、对社会支持的利用程度.结论:社会因素中患者对社会支持的利用程度、心理因素中患者的抑郁状况及对疾病所采取的应对方式等因素对终末期肾病患者的康复结局有重要影响.     

Cancer patients hospitalised for palliative reasons. Symptoms and needs presented at a university hospital

The aim of this study was to identify patients in need of palliative care in 11 different care units with a total of 256 beds at Link?ping University Hospital and to look at their overall situation with respect to assessed symptom control and quality of life. There were 46 patients fulfilling the two criteria of incurable cancer and need for palliative care, and each was assessed with the aid of a questionnaire (five oral questions on life situation) and a single visual analogue scale (VAS) about their overall quality of life (QoL). Each patient also assessed him- or herself on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS). Total ESAS scores ranged from 20 to 639 mm (median 211). Median VAS scores (100 mm = greatest symptom severity) were as follows: nausea 6 mm, pain 9 mm, anxiety 17 mm, depression 18 mm, drowsiness 35 mm, activity 38 mm, appetite 45 mm, and sensation of well-being 46 mm. The median score for QoL was 47 and correlated well with the total ESAS score. Thirty-seven patients answered the open question "What in your current situation troubles you the most?". Seven patients answered "nothing", and 10 said "the present symptoms". Twenty patients had different concerns (existential, social, and psychological). The low number of hospitalised patients found reflects a well-functioning hospital-based home-care unit. Reduced appetite, sensation of well-being and activity were dominant, while pain and nausea were less intense. The simple QoL-VAS seemed to be comparable to ESAS, which is more useful for assessing each single symptom. The non-physical dimensions need more attention in the future in order to achieve totally satisfactory palliative care.     

初产孕妇产前焦虑与社会支持应对方式的相关性研究

目的了解初产孕妇产前焦虑现状,探讨社会支持、应对方式与焦虑的关系。方法采用一般情况调查问卷、焦虑自评量表、社会支持量表和简易应对方式量表,对263例初产孕妇进行问卷调查。结果本组孕妇的焦虑标准分为(40.35±7.24)分,高于国内常模(P0.05);90例(34.2%)孕妇发生不同程度的焦虑;焦虑总分与社会支持总分、积极应对方式得分呈负相关(r=-0.450、-0.315,P0.01),与消极应对方式正相关(r=0.364,P0.05)。结论 1/3初产孕妇临产前存在一定的焦虑,其受到的社会支持越多,应对方式越积极,焦虑情绪越轻。     

Identification of stressors, level of stress, coping strategies, and coping effectiveness among Egyptian mastectomy patients

The purpose of this study was to identify stressors, level of stress, coping strategies, and coping effectiveness in Egyptian female mastectomy patients. A total of 64 women who had had mastectomies participated in the study. Coping effectiveness was measured by McNett's Coping Effectiveness Questionnaire (MCEQ). Factor analysis and reliability measures were established on MCEQ using the study sample. Data were collected using a structured interview method. Participants were also asked about age, education, and time since mastectomy. These data were examined in an effort to predict coping effectiveness. The participants reported five stressors: hope for cure, treatment effectiveness, fear of the unknown, progression of the disease, and pain. The treatment effectiveness stressor had the highest mean level of stress. There was a significant difference in the level of stress among the five stressors. Coping strategies reported were categorized into four groups: faith, compliance with the medical regimen, seeking information and social support, and self-distraction. Coping effectiveness was significantly and positively correlated with age and time since mastectomy, which accounted for 35% of the variance in coping effectiveness. Findings suggest that continuing assessments of Egyptian mastectomy patients' needs, further research studies, and an intervention program to ameliorate cancer-related anxiety and to help cancer patients cope effectively may be helpful.