Juhee Cho1,2,3,4, Eun-kyung Choi2, So Young Kim5, Dong Wook Shin6,7, Be-Long Cho6, Chang-hoon Kim8, Dai Ha Koh9, Eliseo Guallar4, Wayne A Bardwell10, Jong Hyock Park5. 1. Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine & SAHIST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea. 2. Cancer Education Center, Samsung Comprehensive Cancer Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. 3. Departments of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. 4. Departments of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. 5. Division of Cancer Policy and Management, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea. 6. Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. 7. Cancer Survivorship Clinic, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul, Korea. 8. Department of Cancer Management, Busan Regional Cancer Center, Busan, Korea. 9. Department of Preventive Medicine, Jeonbuk Regional Cancer Center, Jeonju-si, Korea. 10. Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, CA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Cancer patients are more likely to experience depression than the general population. This study aims to evaluate the possible association between cancer stigma and depression among cancer patients. METHODS: As a part of the Korean government's program to develop comprehensive supportive care, we conducted a nationwide survey in 2010 at the National Cancer Center and in nine regional cancer centers across Korea. Cancer stigma was assessed by using a set of 12 questions grouped in three domains-impossibility of recovery, stereotypes of cancer patients, and experience of social discrimination. Depression was measured by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: A total of 466 cancer patients were included in the study. Over 30% of the cancer survivors had negative attitudes toward cancer and held stereotypical views of themselves: about 10% of the participants experienced social discrimination due to cancer, and 24.5% reported clinically significant depressive symptoms. Patients who had or experienced cancer stigma were 2.5 times more likely to have depression than patients with positive attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of highly developed medical science and increased survivorship, cancer survivors had cancer stigmas, and it was significantly associated with depression. IMPACT: Our findings emphasize the need for medical societies and health professionals to pay more attention to cancer stigma that patients are likely to experience during treatment.
OBJECTIVE:Cancerpatients are more likely to experience depression than the general population. This study aims to evaluate the possible association between cancer stigma and depression among cancerpatients. METHODS: As a part of the Korean government's program to develop comprehensive supportive care, we conducted a nationwide survey in 2010 at the National Cancer Center and in nine regional cancer centers across Korea. Cancer stigma was assessed by using a set of 12 questions grouped in three domains-impossibility of recovery, stereotypes of cancerpatients, and experience of social discrimination. Depression was measured by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: A total of 466 cancerpatients were included in the study. Over 30% of the cancer survivors had negative attitudes toward cancer and held stereotypical views of themselves: about 10% of the participants experienced social discrimination due to cancer, and 24.5% reported clinically significant depressive symptoms. Patients who had or experienced cancer stigma were 2.5 times more likely to have depression than patients with positive attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of highly developed medical science and increased survivorship, cancer survivors had cancer stigmas, and it was significantly associated with depression. IMPACT: Our findings emphasize the need for medical societies and health professionals to pay more attention to cancer stigma that patients are likely to experience during treatment.
Authors: A C Sweetland; A Kritski; M A Oquendo; M E Sublette; A Norcini Pala; L R Batista Silva; A Karpati; E C Silva; M O Moraes; J R Lapa E Silva; M L Wainberg Journal: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis Date: 2017-08-01 Impact factor: 2.373
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