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Existential distress and associated factors in advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2024

Guiru Xu Open the ORCID record for Guiru Xu [Opens in a new window] ,
Jianwei Zheng ,
Xiaodan Lin ,
Hong Wu ,
Shangwang Yang ,
Huimin Xiao  and
Xiaoyan Lin
Guiru Xu
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
Jianwei Zheng
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
Xiaodan Lin
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
Hong Wu
Affiliation:
Fujian Provincial Hospice, Fuzhou, China
Shangwang Yang
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology, Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
Huimin Xiao*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
Xiaoyan Lin*
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
*
Corresponding authors: Huimin Xiao; Email: huimin_xiao@126.com; Xiaoyan Lin; Email: 13950482366@qq.com
Corresponding authors: Huimin Xiao; Email: huimin_xiao@126.com; Xiaoyan Lin; Email: 13950482366@qq.com
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Abstract

Background

Advanced cancer patients often experience existential distress (ED). However, the factors associated with ED remain unclear. This study investigated the current state of ED and identified the associated factors in Chinese patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 352 advanced cancer patients from 3 tertiary hospitals in Fujian, China. Participants were invited to complete the Existential Distress Scale, Number Rating Scale, Self-Perceived Burden Scale, Quality of Life Concerns in the End-of-Life Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the level of existential distress among advanced cancer patients in China and identify the associated factors.

Results

A total of 352 advanced cancer patients were recruited for this study. The average score for ED was 8.48 ± 7.12 among the advanced cancer patients. Multiple regression showed that the associated factors included depression (β = 0.32, p = 0.000), self-perceived burden (SPB) (β = 0.18, p = 0.001), the presence of a spouse (β = −0.10, p = 0.050), and reception of government subsidies (β = 0.17, p = 0.001). The factors accounted for 30.1% of the total variance in ED (F = 8.472, p < 0.001).

Significance of results

Among the advanced cancer patients queried, ED was found to be positively influenced by depression, SPB, and reception of government subsidies and negatively influenced by the presence of a spouse. Depression was the most important risk factor, and thus future ED interventions should target depression.

Keywords

Existential distressadvanced cancerassociated factorscross-sectional study

Information

Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 22 , Issue 5 , October 2024 , pp. 1094 - 1101
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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