Relationship of Unmet Psycho-Social Needs, Coping Styles and Psychological distress among people with Cancer

Abstract

Despite continued progress in biomedical treatment, people having cancer are minimally assessed for their mental health conditions. The adaptation to cancer is influenced by their pre-existing unmet psycho-social factors. Although the prevalence of elevated psychological morbidities is well-established among people with cancer, yet little is known about the influential role of unmet psychosocial needs and adopted cognitive reactions in response to diagnosis of cancer. This research is aimed to explore the prevalence and association of unmet psycho-social needs and cognitive coping in response to cancer with psychological distress among people with cancer. Based upon existing studies, it was hypothesized that unmet psycho-social needs and maladaptive cognitive response will be positively associated with psychological distress. A cross-sectional correlational study design was used. Sample was selected from Peshawar and Islamabad hospitals (n=182) that comprised people with cancer from age eighteen years and above with no other medical or psychiatric problems. The selection also included patients with any ongoing cancer treatment and diagnosed with cancer for at least three months. Written informed consent mentioning avoidance of harm, deception, protecting anonymity and confidentiality with right to withdraw from the study was verbally explained to the participants. A signed written informed consent indicated their willingness after which the data was collected through one to one interaction. In the first phase, to assess unmet psycho-social needs, cognitive responses and degree of psychological distress, supportive care needs- short form (SCNS-SF) and mini mental adjustment to cancer scale (mini-MACS) were translated in Urdu language following World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The psychometric properties were also analysed and reliability.