Depression among Cancer Patients: Risk Factors and Coping Mechanism

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To gauge the prevalence of depression and; identify the potential risk factors as well as coping strategies among cancer patients. METHODOLOGY: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March to November 2018 at Clinical Oncology Department, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL) Lahore. The purposive sampling technique was used and interviewed 118 sampled cancer patients. Interview schedule, depression Scale, and coping scales were used as an instrument to collect data. To analyze the data, three different methods were used i.e; frequency distribution analysis method for descriptive results; regression analysis and Pearson correlation. Multiple linear regressions were used to estimate the significant relationship of demographic variables with depression. RESULTS: The results of the study indicated that 16% of respondents had a low level of depression, 72% medium while 12% had a high level of depression. In the case of coping mechanisms, the majority of respondents adopted cognitive restriction, emotional expression, information seeking, self-blame, Wish Fulfilling Fantasy, and threat minimization as coping styles. All the predictor variables including age, economic status, family support, and duration of cancer were found significantly associated with depression. The results of correlation analysis indicated a negative association between depression and coping strategies. CONCLUSION: Considering the diverse effect of depression and repeated use of various coping strategies, comprehensive steps are needed to screening and counsel cancer patients that will be effective for their mental wellbeing.

Keywords

• : depression
• prevalence
• risk factors
• cancer patients