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Coping strategies of patients with advanced lung or colorectal cancer in six European countries: Insights from the ACTION Study
Author(s) -
Jabbarian Lea J.,
Korfage Ida J.,
Červ Branka,
Delden Johannes J.M.,
Deliens Luc,
Miccinesi Guido,
Payne Sheila,
Thit Johnsen Anna,
Verkissen Mariëtte N.,
Wilcock Andrew,
Heide Agnes,
Rietjens Judith A.C.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.5259
Subject(s) - denial , coping (psychology) , medicine , psychological intervention , lung cancer , colorectal cancer , clinical psychology , palliative care , psychology , cancer , psychiatry , nursing , psychotherapist
Objective Even when medical treatments are limited, supporting patients’ coping strategies could improve their quality of life. Greater understanding of patients’ coping strategies, and influencing factors, can aid developing such support. We examined the prevalence of coping strategies and associated variables. Methods We used sociodemographic and baseline data from the ACTION trial, including measures of Denial, Acceptance, and Problem‐focused coping (COPE; Brief COPE inventory), of patients with advanced cancer from six European countries. Clinicians provided clinical information. Linear mixed models with clustering at hospital level were used. Results Data from 675 patients with stage III/IV lung (342, 51%) or stage IV colorectal (333, 49%) cancer were used; mean age 66 (10 SD) years. Overall, patients scored low on Denial and high on Acceptance and Problem‐focused coping. Older age was associated with higher scores on Denial than younger age ( β = 0.05; CI[0.023; 0.074]), and patients from Italy ( β = 1.57 CI[0.760; 2.388]) and Denmark ( β = 1.82 CI[0.881; 2.750]) scored higher on Denial than patients in other countries. Conclusions Patients with advanced cancer predominantly used Acceptance and Problem‐focused coping, and Denial to a lesser extent. Since the studied coping strategies of patients with advanced cancer vary between subpopulations, we recommend taking these factors into account when developing tailored interventions to support patients’ coping strategies.