Xiao Hang Liu1, Jiu Di Zhong1,2, Jun E Zhang3, Yu Cheng4, Xiu Qing Bu3. 1. State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China. 2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China. 3. School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. 4. School of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the level of stigma and identify the correlates of stigma among lung cancer patients in China. METHODS: In total, 283 lung cancer patients were recruited from a tertiary cancer center in China by the convenience sampling method and completed a demographic, disease-related information and situational characteristics questionnaire and self-reported measures assessing stigma, state self-esteem, and coping self-efficacy. RESULTS: The mean stigma score was moderate (2.38 ± 0.45). Stigma was significantly and negatively associated with state self-esteem (r = -0.607, P < .001) and coping self-efficacy (r = -0.424, P < .001). Multivariable linear regression showed that age, cancer stage, negative changes (ie, in financial burden, body image, and family relationship), cancer disclosure, perceived blame, state self-esteem, and coping self-efficacy accounted for 49.9% of the variance in stigma. CONCLUSIONS: Stigma is a widespread psychosocial phenomenon among patients with lung cancer in China. Health care policy-makers and professionals should pay more attention to this issue and take effective measures to address stigma among lung cancer patients by improving their state self-esteem and coping self-efficacy, encouraging cancer disclosure and providing support for adjusting to negative changes after diagnosis.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the level of stigma and identify the correlates of stigma among lung cancerpatients in China. METHODS: In total, 283 lung cancerpatients were recruited from a tertiary cancer center in China by the convenience sampling method and completed a demographic, disease-related information and situational characteristics questionnaire and self-reported measures assessing stigma, state self-esteem, and coping self-efficacy. RESULTS: The mean stigma score was moderate (2.38 ± 0.45). Stigma was significantly and negatively associated with state self-esteem (r = -0.607, P < .001) and coping self-efficacy (r = -0.424, P < .001). Multivariable linear regression showed that age, cancer stage, negative changes (ie, in financial burden, body image, and family relationship), cancer disclosure, perceived blame, state self-esteem, and coping self-efficacy accounted for 49.9% of the variance in stigma. CONCLUSIONS: Stigma is a widespread psychosocial phenomenon among patients with lung cancer in China. Health care policy-makers and professionals should pay more attention to this issue and take effective measures to address stigma among lung cancerpatients by improving their state self-esteem and coping self-efficacy, encouraging cancer disclosure and providing support for adjusting to negative changes after diagnosis.
Authors: Mengting Xie; Chunfeng Wang; Jingyi Chen; Ying Wang; Xiaoxia Wu; Yong Wu; Rong Hu Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-11-23 Impact factor: 3.603