Avoidant adjustment predicts lower information seeking in people with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the factors that predict information seeking by cancer patients. This study investigated the influence of different styles of adjustment to cancer, information goals and information needs on the information seeking by lung cancer patients. METHOD: Lung cancer patients were recruited at their first appointment with their radiation oncologist and completed two questionnaires, one month apart, containing the Patient Information Needs Questionnaire, Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, the number of information sources accessed and a purpose-built measure of cancer-related personal goals. RESULTS: Fifty-nine participants completed two questionnaires. The average number of information sources accessed by participants increased over the 1-month period, from 7.2 to 9.1 sources (p = 0.026). Information goals at time 1 predicted information seeking at time 2 (p = 0.014). Information needs at time 1 did not predict information seeking at time 2 (Disease Orientated information need p = 0.084, Action Orientated information need p = 0.229). Cognitive Avoidance at time 1 was negatively associated with the number of information sources accessed at time 2 (p = 0.046). This relationship became a non-significant trend (p = 0.066) when baseline information seeking was controlled for. No other adjustment style (at time 1) exhibited a significant relationship with information seeking at time 2. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that information seeking may vary as a function of adjustment to cancer. Consequently, information provision to patients could be more appropriately tailored by attending to how a patient is adjusting to their diagnosis of cancer.

Trajectories of distress in women with gynaecological cancer treated with curative-intent radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate trajectories of anxiety and depression symptoms among gynaecological cancer (GC) patients having curative-intent radiotherapy (RT) treatment and identify which patient characteristics predict anxiety and depression trajectories. METHODS AND MEASURES: Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify unique trajectories of anxiety and depression symptoms, spanning prior to the start of RT until 12-month post-RT, among 151 GC patients in the PeNTAGOn randomized control trial. Demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed at baseline, and anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed five times over 12 months. A bias-adjusted 3-step maximum likelihood approach was used to identify demographic and clinical predictors of trajectory profiles. RESULTS: Four latent profiles each were identified for anxiety and depression trajectories. Most patients had minimal to mild levels of anxiety or depression that remained steady or declined over 12 months following treatment. A minority of patients were in profiles that exhibited clinically significant distress; either 'High fluctuating' anxiety or 'Mild-moderate fluctuating' depression. Anxiety and depression profiles were predicted by clinical and demographic factors, such as age, living arrangements, RT type, cancer stage, physical symptom distress and use of support services. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological care of patients in the higher distress trajectories is paramount and, importantly, they could be identified prior to treatment based on the factors identified. Review for at least a month post-RT is warranted.