Premium
Mapping the needs and psychological outcomes of Slovenian adolescent and young adult cancer patients: An exploratory mixed‐method study
Author(s) -
Košir Urška,
Roškar Sanja,
Wild Jennifer,
Bowes Lucy
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.13326
Subject(s) - worry , medicine , anxiety , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , exploratory research , psychiatry , empathy , dignity , distress , mental health , sociology , anthropology , political science , law , economics , macroeconomics
Objective With improving survival rates, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the psychological aspect and needs of young cancer patients and survivors. Our goal was to describe the self‐reported levels of psychological distress, subjective illness experience and needs of young Slovenian cancer patients and survivors. Methods Seventy‐nine participants, aged 19–39 years, answered questionnaires about anxiety, depression, mental defeat, cancer worry and their experience of learning the diagnosis and being treated. We used visualisations to demonstrate the relationship between anxiety and depression. The qualitative responses were summarised using a content analysis approach. Results Twenty‐eight (35%) participants scored in the clinical range for anxiety and fifteen (19%) for depression. Cancer‐related worry was common (85% reported at least one worry). Mental defeat was positively associated with measures of psychological distress. Those who felt negative about learning their diagnosis emphasised the need for more time, empathy and dignity. Psychological support during illness was seen as crucial. Conclusion Anxiety and depression remain a problem for a subset of patients. Medical professionals working with young people with cancer should encourage a warm atmosphere as they attend to patients’ needs and concerns.