[Awareness of cancer diagnosis does not lead to depression in palliative care patients]. / O conhecimento do diagnóstico de câncer não leva à depressão em pacientes sob cuidados paliativos.

OBJECTIVE: Characterize the profile of patients under palliative care at this institution and evaluate the prevalence of depression in these patients. METHODS: Sixty two cancer patients under palliative care, who had answered three questionnaires: one regarding their demographic characteristics, another to evaluate their quality of life and the Beck's depression inventory were surveyed. RESULTS: Of these patients, 68% presented with some degree of depression. Most of them were aware of their diagnosis (87.1%), did not talk to their physicians on other subjects but their disease (81.18%), were satisfied with their treatment (93.33%) and with the support they received (95.70%). Pain, fatigue, weakness and sleep disturbances were the most frequently reported symptoms. There was a significant correlation between presence of depression and not knowing the diagnosis (p=0.008), being admitted to the hospital (p=0.0019) and not having ever received oncologic treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients under palliative care at this institution, despite being satisfied with the treatment, reported poor communication with their physicians and presented with a high rate of depression. Awareness of their diagnosis and having received prior oncologic treatment (p=0.07) correlated significantly and inversely with having depression.

O conhecimento do diagnóstico de câncer não leva à depressão em pacientes sob cuidados paliativos / Awareness of cancer diagnosis does not lead to depression in palliative care patients

OBJETIVOS: Traçar o perfil e identificar a prevalência de depressão nos pacientes sob cuidados paliativos no Serviço de Oncologia da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. MÉTODOS: Entrevistamos 62 pacientes oncológicos em cuidados paliativos que responderam a três questionários: questionário geral contendo variáveis demográficas, questionário estruturado para pacientes oncológicos em cuidados terminais para avaliação de sua qualidade de vida e inventário de depressão de Beck. RESULTADOS: Observamos que 68 por cento dos pacientes tinham algum grau de depressão. A maioria dos pacientes sabia seu diagnóstico (87,1 por cento), estava satisfeito com o tratamento (93,33 por cento), sentia-se satisfeito com o apoio recebido (95,7 por cento) e referiu não conversar com seus médicos sobre outros assuntos além de sua saúde (81,18 por cento). Os sintomas mais freqüentes foram dor, cansaço, fraqueza e alterações do sono. Encontramos que o fato de não saber o diagnóstico (p=0,008), estar internado (p=0,0019) e não ter recebido tratamento oncológico (p=0,007) se correlacionam significativamente com níveis mais altos de depressão. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes sob cuidados paliativos em nosso meio, apesar de geralmente satisfeitos com seu cuidado, relatam pobre comunicação com seu médico e apresentam uma alta taxa de depressão. Saber o seu diagnóstico e ter recebido tratamento oncológico se correlacionam inversamente com a presença de depressão.

OBJECTIVE: Characterize the profile of patients under palliative care at this institution and evaluate the prevalence of depression in these patients. METHODS: Sixty two cancer patients under palliative care, who had answered three questionnaires: one regarding their demographic characteristics, another to evaluate their quality of life and the Beck's depression inventory were surveyed. RESULTS: Of these patients, 68 percent presented with some degree of depression. Most of them were aware of their diagnosis (87.1 percent), did not talk to their physicians on other subjects but their disease (81.18 percent), were satisfied with their treatment (93.33 percent) and with the support they received (95.70 percent). Pain, fatigue, weakness and sleep disturbances were the most frequently reported symptoms. There was a significant correlation between presence of depression and not knowing the diagnosis (p=0.008), being admitted to the hospital (p=0.0019) and not having ever received oncologic treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients under palliative care at this institution, despite being satisfied with the treatment, reported poor communication with their physicians and presented with a high rate of depression. Awareness of their diagnosis and having received prior oncologic treatment (p=0.07) correlated significantly and inversely with having depression.