Gil Goldzweig1, Lea Baider2, Jeremy M Jacobs3, Ibtisam M Ghrayeb4, Eli Sapir5, Yakir Rottenberg6. 1. School of Behavioral Sciences, Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Tel Aviv, Israel. giligold@mta.ac.il. 2. Oncology Institute, Assuta Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. 3. Department of Geriatric Rehabilitation and the Center for Palliative Care, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. 4. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Makassed Hospital, East Jerusalem, Israel. 5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, Ashdod, Israel. 6. Sharett Oncology Institute, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Studies of depression in older Muslim Palestinians diagnosed with cancer are scarce. To gain insight into the psychological response and coping ability of this very large, globally distributed population, we collected data from older Muslim Palestinian people diagnosed with cancer concerning depression hope and perceived social support. Both hope and social support were selected because they can be manipulated through intervention and education, as shown in the geriatric literature. Data were compared to data collected from older Jewish Israeli people diagnosed with cancer. DESIGN: The study sample comprised 143 Muslim Palestinian and 110 Jewish Israeli people diagnosed with cancer, aged ≥ 65. All participants were either in treatment for active disease or within 6 months of such treatment. Self-administered measures included depression (the Five-Item Geriatric Depression Scale), perceived social support (Cancer Perceived Agents of Social Support Questionnaire) and hope (Snyder's Adult Hope Scale). RESULTS: Hope and depression were both found to be significantly higher among the Muslim Palestinian patients than in the Jewish Israeli participants. In both samples, higher levels of hope were associated with lower levels of depression, with this correlation stronger in the Jewish Israeli group. CONCLUSION: To improve the psychological wellbeing of patients, healthcare providers must exercise cultural sensitivity in their interactions, respecting the perspectives of both the patients and their families. Incorporating the concept of hope into the therapeutic dialogue and language may improve psychological wellbeing and synchronize the needs and expectations of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, resulting in more equitable, effective and value-oriented care.
OBJECTIVES: Studies of depression in older Muslim Palestinians diagnosed with cancer are scarce. To gain insight into the psychological response and coping ability of this very large, globally distributed population, we collected data from older Muslim Palestinian people diagnosed with cancer concerning depression hope and perceived social support. Both hope and social support were selected because they can be manipulated through intervention and education, as shown in the geriatric literature. Data were compared to data collected from older Jewish Israeli people diagnosed with cancer. DESIGN: The study sample comprised 143 Muslim Palestinian and 110 Jewish Israeli people diagnosed with cancer, aged ≥ 65. All participants were either in treatment for active disease or within 6 months of such treatment. Self-administered measures included depression (the Five-Item Geriatric Depression Scale), perceived social support (Cancer Perceived Agents of Social Support Questionnaire) and hope (Snyder's Adult Hope Scale). RESULTS: Hope and depression were both found to be significantly higher among the Muslim Palestinian patients than in the Jewish Israeli participants. In both samples, higher levels of hope were associated with lower levels of depression, with this correlation stronger in the Jewish Israeli group. CONCLUSION: To improve the psychological wellbeing of patients, healthcare providers must exercise cultural sensitivity in their interactions, respecting the perspectives of both the patients and their families. Incorporating the concept of hope into the therapeutic dialogue and language may improve psychological wellbeing and synchronize the needs and expectations of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, resulting in more equitable, effective and value-oriented care.
Authors: C R Snyder; C Harris; J R Anderson; S A Holleran; L M Irving; S T Sigmon; L Yoshinobu; J Gibb; C Langelle; P Harney Journal: J Pers Soc Psychol Date: 1991-04
Authors: Rebecca M Saracino; Mark I Weinberger; Andrew J Roth; Arti Hurria; Christian J Nelson Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2016-05-16 Impact factor: 3.894