Anxiety and Depression in Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients: Does Knowing Their Diagnosis Matter?
Author Information
Author(s): Tavoli Azadeh, Mohagheghi Mohammad Ali, Montazeri Ali, Roshan Rasool, Tavoli Zahra, Omidvari Sepideh
Primary Institution: Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
Hypothesis
Does knowledge of cancer diagnosis affect psychological distress in patients with gastrointestinal cancer?
Conclusion
Psychological distress was higher in those who knew their cancer diagnosis.
Supporting Evidence
- 47.2% of patients scored high on anxiety.
- 57% of patients scored high on depression.
- Patients who knew their diagnosis had higher anxiety scores (9.1) compared to those who did not (6.3).
- Patients who knew their diagnosis had higher depression scores (9.1) compared to those who did not (7.9).
Takeaway
Patients with gastrointestinal cancer who know they have cancer feel more anxious and depressed than those who don't know.
Methodology
Cross-sectional study measuring anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
Potential Biases
Potential bias in self-reported knowledge of diagnosis and psychological distress.
Limitations
The study may not generalize to all cancer patients as it focused on gastrointestinal cancer only.
Participant Demographics
Mean age 54.1 years, 56% male, 52% did not know their cancer diagnosis.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001 for anxiety, p=0.05 for depression
Confidence Interval
OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1–6.8 for anxiety; OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.1–7.2 for depression
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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