Emotional Distress in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care
Author Information
Author(s): Gonçalves Florbela, Gaudêncio Margarida, Paiva Ivo, Rego Francisca, Nunes Rui
Primary Institution: Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto
Hypothesis
The study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and the Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) among hospitalized cancer patients receiving palliative care.
Conclusion
The ESAS and POS are effective tools for evaluating emotional distress in palliative care patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with advanced cancer often experience high levels of emotional suffering.
- The study confirmed that self-reported anxiety and depression are correlated with emotional questions.
- Anxiety related to disease was strongly correlated with increased self-reported anxiety.
- Patients who shared their feelings less frequently were less likely to find meaning in life.
Takeaway
This study shows that cancer patients in palliative care often feel very sad and anxious, and using simple tools can help doctors understand their feelings better.
Methodology
A cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted using psychological screening instruments (ESAS and POS) among hospitalized cancer patients.
Potential Biases
The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have influenced patient responses due to social isolation.
Limitations
The sample size is small and limited to a single hospital, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The majority of participants were male (61.7%) with a median age of 72 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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