ASSESMENT OF DISTRESS AMONG ONCOLOGY PATIENTS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE TREATMENT
Abstract
The main aim of this study is to assess the level of distress among oncology patients a year and a half after the diagnosis of malignancy and completion of the combined oncology treatment (surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy). The second goal was to apply, for the first time in our country, the following world standards in the field of psycho-oncology set up by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) using a distress scale/distress thermometer on a sample of oncology patients who applied for psychological help and support in a private counseling center after completion of the oncological treatment. The examined sample consisted of 40 patients (30 women and 10 men) who, upon their first arrival at the counseling center and at the end of the initial psychological interview, were asked to fill the distress thermometer with the adequate explanations, provided that the self-assessment of the distress was significant to the further counseling psychological and/or psychotherapeutical treatment. The results of the whole sample showed that the highest percentage of patients examined (52.5%) evaluated various investigated problems as moderately stressful, 20% of patients assessed the problems as very stressful, 12.5% as slightly stressful and only 5% as not stressful. Related to practical problems, the largest percentage of patients assessed money and account payment issues (30%) and work - related issues (27.5%) as the most stressful. 22.5% of patients quote parenting and child care as the most stressful family problems. Concerning emotional problems, a significant percentage of patients (45%), quote concern and anxiety, 32.5% the existence of different fears, 22.5% sadness, and 20% irritability and tension as the most stressful emotional problems. 85% of patients stated that the fear of relapse of the disease is a problem that worries them the most. Patients in this study experience emotional problems considerably more stressful compared to other problems in the post-treatment period.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22190/TEME180515022K
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