2004 Volume 6 Issue 4 Pages 268-274
The objectives for this study were to: (a) examine the psychological distress of gastric patients after cancer diagnosis, (b) identify the correlation between patients psychological distress and their support from physicians and public health nurses during the first 6 months following diagnosis. One hundred and five patients with gastric cancer were mailed the questionnaire. They were asked about the level of their psychological distress on the day of diagnosis, and at 2-3 days, 1 week, and 6 months post diagnosis psychological distress, and about the perceived adjustment from cancer diagnosis. They were also asked the perceived support from physician in charge, and public health nurse in charge, during the first Gmonth post diagnosis. The level of the distress and the perceived support were measured by the Visual Analogue Scales. Univariate analyses indicated the time of perceived adjustment from cancer diagnosis in early-stage colon cancer patients was significantly lower than in the other cancer patients. The support from physician was significantly fastened the time of adjustment from cancer diagnosis. The support from nurses was significantly correlated with the level of psychological distress on the day of diagnosis. The study identified that support from physicians and nurses improve the psychological distress in cancer patients after cancer diagnosis. This study suggests support from health care professionals are important to start just after cancer diagnosis.
