Longitudinal associations between coping strategies, locus of control and health-related quality of life in patients with breast cancer or melanoma.

PURPOSE: A diagnosis of breast cancer or melanoma is a traumatic life event that patients have to face. However, their locus-of-control (LOC) beliefs and coping strategies as well as the associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes over time are still not well known and rarely compared by cancer site. METHODS: The objective of this longitudinal study was to assess the association of LOC (Cancer Locus-of-Control Scale) and coping (Brief Cope) changes, with change in HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30) over time in newly diagnosed breast cancer and melanoma patients at 1, 6, 12, and 24 month post-diagnosis. Mixed models were used to compare LOC and coping longitudinal changes as well as their associations with HRQoL changes in early-stage breast cancer and melanoma patients. RESULTS: Overall, 215 breast cancer and 78 melanoma patients participated in the study. At baseline, HRQoL levels were often higher for breast cancer compared to melanoma patients. For breast cancer and melanoma patients, negative coping strategies and perceived control over the course of illness were negatively and positively associated with HRQoL changes, respectively. For breast cancer patients only, emotional coping and internal causal attribution were negatively associated with HRQoL changes. For both cancer sites, living with a partner correlated with worse HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding coping strategies and LOC beliefs used by patients soon after their cancer diagnosis and over the course of illness can help identifying psychological and supportive care to modify maladaptive thoughts and beliefs and promote more adaptive behaviors to ultimately improve patients' well-being and HRQoL.

A comparison of posttraumatic growth changes in breast cancer and melanoma.

OBJECTIVE: This article presents a comparison of the changes of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) in breast cancer and melanoma patients over a 2-year follow-up period and investigates the associations between coping strategies, anxiety, depression, emotional functioning, and PTG over time. METHOD: Seventy-eight early stage melanoma patients from Nantes University Hospital and 215 breast cancer patients from Nantes Cancerology Institute completed self-administered questionnaires collecting sociodemographic and medical information and assessing health-related quality of life, coping strategies, anxiety and depression within 1 month of diagnosis and 6, 12, and 24 months after the diagnosis. PTG was assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months postdiagnosis. RESULTS: We found that PTG increased over time for both cancers, but that breast cancer and melanoma patients did not experience the same magnitude of changes in PTG depending on time and on depression. While we did not find any relationship between anxiety, emotional functioning, negative coping and PTG; positive and emotional coping were positively associated with PTG changes for both cancers. Substance use was negatively related to PTG at 2 years postdiagnosis for melanoma and breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal that PTG increases over time for both cancers. In addition, it provides relevant information about the coping strategies that are associated with the experience of positive changes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Anxiety, locus of control and sociodemographic factors associated with adherence to an annual clinical skin monitoring: a cross-sectional survey among 1000 high-risk French patients involved in a pilot-targeted screening programme for melanoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess whether adherence to annual clinical skin monitoring is dependent on patient sociodemographic characteristics or personality traits. DESIGN: The study was a questionnaire survey. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected between February and April 2013 in a sample of 1000 patients at high risk of melanoma who participated in a pilot-targeted screening programme in western France. OUTCOME MEASURES: Sociodemographic data, overall anxiety level (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire), locus of control (Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale) and levels of anxiety specifically associated with screening and melanoma were collected. Actual participation in the skin monitoring examination was reported by 78 general practitioner investigators. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was performed using R statistical software. Factors associated with non-adherence were identified by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Our analysis included 687 responses (526 adherent patients and 161 non-adherent patients). Non-adherence was higher in younger patients and in men (OR=0.63 (0.41-0.99)). Viewing health status as dependent on external persons (OR=0.90, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.97) or determined by chance (OR=0.89, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.98) and overall anxiety (OR=0.98, 95% CI 0.97 to 0.99) were also factors associated with non-adherence. In contrast, there was no link between anxiety specifically associated with the screening performed or melanoma and patient adherence to monitoring. Adherence was higher in married patients (OR=1.68 95% CI 1.08 to 2.60). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that sociodemographic and psychological characteristics should be considered when including patients at elevated risk of melanoma in a targeted screening programme. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01610531; Post-results.

Coping Strategies at the Time of Diagnosis and Quality of Life 2 Years Later: A Study in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma Patients.

BACKGROUND: While coping has been found to have time-lagged effects on psychological adjustment in cancer patients, studies addressing this issue are missing in melanoma patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide more insight into the links between coping strategies at the time of diagnosis and quality of life (QOL) 2 years later in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma. METHODS: Patients who received diagnosis of melanoma (n = 78) were assessed regarding coping strategies within 1 month of diagnosis (T1); their anxiety, depression, control, QOL, and life satisfaction were evaluated 24 months later (T2). Relevant medical and sociodemographic data were collected at T1 and T2. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Consistent with the literature, we found that higher positive reframing was associated with greater life satisfaction and that increased behavioral disengagement was related to decreased cognitive functioning. Surprisingly, our results highlighted that higher active coping predicted lower emotional functioning and that greater religious coping was associated with more reports of nausea symptoms. We also noticed that depression was strongly related to QOL beyond the end of interferon α therapy. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggest that specific coping strategies may have time-lagged effects on QOL when the treatment is completed. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings provide new insights into the coping strategies that could be promoted in coping skills interventions in dermatology units and reveal the significant role of preventive care concerning the posttreatment period.

Prospective, multicenter, controlled study of quality of life, psychological adjustment process and medical outcomes of patients receiving a preemptive kidney transplant compared to a similar population of recipients after a dialysis period of less than three years--The PreKit-QoL study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of end stage renal disease has an impact on patients' physical and psychological health, including quality of life (QoL). Nowadays, it is known that reducing the dialysis period has many advantages regarding QoL and medical outcomes. Although preemptive transplantation is the preferred strategy to prevent patients undergoing dialysis, its psychological impact is unknown. Moreover, transplantation can be experienced in a completely different manner among patients who were on dialysis and those who still had a functioning kidney at the time of surgery. Longitudinal data are often collected to allow analyzing the evolution of patients' QoL over time using questionnaires. Such data are often difficult to interpret due to the patients' changing standards, values, or conceptualization of what the questionnaire is intended to measure (e.g. QoL). This phenomenon is referred to as response shift and is often linked to the way the patients might adapt or cope with their disease experience. Whether response shift is experienced in a different way among patients who were on dialysis and those who still had a functioning kidney at time of surgery is unknown and will be studied in the PreKit-QoL study (trial registration number: NCT02154815). Understanding the psychological impact of pre-emptive transplantation is an important issue since it can be associated with long-term patient and graft survival. METHODS/DESIGN: Adult patients with a pre-emptive transplantation (n = 130) will be prospectively included along with a control group of patients with a pre-transplant dialysis period < 36 months (n = 260). Only first and single kidney transplantation will be considered. Endpoints include: comparison of change between groups in QoL, anxiety and depressive disorders, perceived stress, taking into account response shift. These criteria will be evaluated every 6 months prior to surgery, at hospital discharge, at three and six months, one and two years after transplantation. DISCUSSION: The PreKit-QoL study assesses and compares the evolution of QoL and other psychological criteria in preemptive and dialyzed patients taking patients' adaptation into account through response shift analyses. Our study might help to conceive specific, adapted educational programs and psychological support to prevent a possible premature loss of the kidney as a consequence of non-compliance in patients that may be insufficiently prepared for transplantation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02154815 , registered on May 28, 2014.

Oncologists' perception of depressive symptoms in patients with advanced cancer: accuracy and relational correlates.

BACKGROUND: Health care providers often inaccurately perceive depression in cancer patients. The principal aim of this study was to examine oncologist-patient agreement on specific depressive symptoms, and to identify potential predictors of accurate detection. METHODS: 201 adult advanced cancer patients (recruited across four French oncology units) and their oncologists (N = 28) reported depressive symptoms with eight core symptoms from the BDI-SF. Various indices of agreement, as well as logistic regression analyses were employed to analyse data. RESULTS: For individual symptoms, medians for sensitivity and specificity were 33% and 71%, respectively. Sensitivity was lowest for suicidal ideation, self-dislike, guilt, and sense of failure, while specificity was lowest for negative body image, pessimism, and sadness. Indices independent of base rate indicated poor general agreement (median DOR = 1.80; median ICC = .30). This was especially true for symptoms that are more difficult to recognise such as sense of failure, self-dislike and guilt. Depression was detected with a sensitivity of 52% and a specificity of 69%. Distress was detected with a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 65%. Logistic regressions identified compassionate care, quality of relationship, and oncologist self-efficacy as predictors of patient-physician agreement, mainly on the less recognisable symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that oncologists have difficulty accurately detecting depressive symptoms. Low levels of accuracy are problematic, considering that oncologists act as an important liaison to psychosocial services. This underlines the importance of using validated screening tests. Simple training focused on psychoeducation and relational skills would also allow for better detection of key depressive symptoms that are difficult to perceive.

How does a physician's accurate understanding of a cancer patient's unmet needs contribute to patient perception of physician empathy?

OBJECTIVE: Unmet supportive care needs of patients decrease patient perception of physician empathy (PE). We explored whether the accurate physician understanding of a given patient's unmet needs (AU), could buffer the adverse effect of these unmet needs on PE. METHODS: In a cross-sectional design, 28 physicians and 201 metastatic cancer patients independently assessed the unmet supportive care needs of patients. AU was calculated as the sum of items for which physicians correctly rated the level of patient needs. PE and covariates were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Multilevel analyses were carried out. RESULTS: AU did not directly affect PE but acted as a moderator. When patients were highly expressive and when physicians perceived poor rapport with the patient, a high AU moderated the adverse effect of patient unmet needs on PE. CONCLUSION: Physician AU has the power to protect the doctor-patient relationship in spite of high patient unmet needs, but only in certain conditions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Physicians should be encouraged toward AU but warned that high rapport and patient low emotional expression may impede an accurate reading of patients. In this latter case, they should request a formal assessment of their patients' needs.

Patients at elevated risk of melanoma: individual predictors of non-compliance to GP referral for a dermatologist consultation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess whether patients at elevated risk of melanoma attended a dermatologist consultation after a General Practitioner referral and to determine individual predictors of non-compliance. METHOD: This survey included 1506 high-risk French patients (selected using the Self-Assessment Melanoma Risk Score) referred to a dermatologist between April and October 2011. Compliance was evaluated from January to April 2012, based on attendance at a dermatologist consultation (or scheduling an appointment). Demographic data and factors mapping the Health Belief Model were tested as correlates using a multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Compliance with referral was 58.4%. The top seven factors associated with non-compliance were as follows: GP advice to consult was unclear (OR=13.22; [7.66-23.56]); no previous participation in cancer screenings, including smear tests (OR=5.03; [2.23-11.83]) and prostate screening (OR=2.04; [1.06-3.97]); lack of knowledge that melanoma was a type of cancer (OR=1.94; [1.29-2.92]); and reporting no time to make an appointment (OR=2.08; [1.82-2.38]), forgetting to make an appointment (OR=1.26; [1.08-1.46]), long delays in accessing an appointment (OR=1.25; [1.12-1.41]), not being afraid of detecting something abnormal (OR=1.54; [1.35-1.78]), no need to consult a dermatologist to feel secure (OR=1.28; [1.09-1.51]). CONCLUSION: Physicians should be aware of the factors predicting patient compliance with referrals for dermatologist consultations; better General Practitioner counseling might enhance compliance in high-risk populations.

How can we explain physician accuracy in assessing patient distress? A multilevel analysis in patients with advanced cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the determinants of the accuracy with which physicians assess metastatic cancer patient distress, also referred to as their empathic accuracy (EA). Hypothesized determinants were physician empathic attitude, self-efficacy in empathic skills, physician-perceived rapport with the patient, patient distress and patient expressive suppression. METHODS: Twenty-eight physicians assessed their patients' distress level on the distress thermometer, while patients (N=201) independently rated their distress level on the same tool. EA was the difference between both scores in absolute value. Hypothesized determinants were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Multilevel analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Little of the variance in EA was explained by physician variables. EA was higher with higher levels of patient distress. Physician-perceived quality of rapport was positively associated with EA. However, for highly distressed patients, good rapport was associated with lower EA. Patient expressive suppression was also related to lower EA. CONCLUSION: This study adds to the understanding of EA in oncological settings, particularly in challenging the common assumption that EA depends largely on physician characteristics or that better rapport would always favor higher EA. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Physicians should ask patients for feedback regarding their emotions. In parallel, patients should be prompted to express their concerns.

Prospective evaluation of quality of life 54 months after high-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine late toxicity and quality of life (QoL) in patients with localized prostate cancer after high-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). PATIENT AND METHODS: This was a prospective study in patients with localized prostate adenocarcinoma who had been treated by IMRT (76 Gy) between February and November 2006. Physicians scored acute and late toxicity using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 3.0). Patients completed cancer and prostate-specific QoL questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-PR25) before IMRT (baseline) and at 2, 6, 18 and 54 months. RESULT: Data were available for 38 patients (median age, 73 years) (18% low risk; 60% intermediate risk; 32% high risk). The incidence of urinary and gastrointestinal toxicity was respectively: immediately post IMRT: 36.8% and 23.7% (grade 1), 5.3% and 5.3% (grade 2), 2.6% and 0% (grade 3); at 18 months: 23.7% and 10.3% (grade 1), 26.3% and 13.2% (grade 2), 0% and 2.6% (grade 3); at 54 months: 34.2% and 23.7% (grade 1), 5.3% and 15.8% (grade 2), 5.3% and 0% (grade 3). At 54 months, significant worsening was reported by patients for 11/19 QoL items but the worsening was clinically relevant (>10 points) for 7 items only: physical, role as well as social functioning, fatigue, pain, dyspnoea and constipation. There was no significant difference between 54-month and baseline QoL scores for global health, gastrointestinal symptoms, treatment-related symptoms and sexual function. However, there was significant - but clinically non-relevant (<10 points) - worsening of urinary symptom. CONCLUSION: High-dose IMRT to the prostate with accurate patient positioning did not induce any clinically relevant worsening in late urinary and gastrointestinal QoL at 54 months. Impaired physical and role functioning may be related to age and comorbidities.

The mediating role of organizational justice in the relationship between transformational leadership and nurses' quality of work life: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

BACKGROUND: The importance of transformational leadership for nurses' well-being is increasingly acknowledged. However, there is a paucity of research examining the mechanisms that may explain the relationships between transformational leadership and nurses' quality of work life. OBJECTIVES: First, to examine two possible psychological mechanisms that link transformational leadership behaviors to nurses' quality of work life. Second, to study the relationship between nurses' quality of work life and their work engagement. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design. SETTINGS: The study took place in 47 different hematology, oncology, and hematology/oncology units in France. Participants were nurses and auxiliary nurses. PARTICIPANTS: 343 nurses completed the questionnaire. Surveys were sent to all nurses working in the units. 95% were female, the average age was 36.30 years. METHODS: Nurses were asked to rate their supervisor's transformational leadership style and their perceptions of distributive and interactional justice in the unit. They were also asked to evaluate their own level of quality of work life and their work engagement. RESULTS: Distributive justice and interactional justice were found to fully mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and nurses' quality of work life. In addition, nurses' quality of work life positively related to their work engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Transformational leaders may help ensure nurses' quality of work life which in turn increases their work engagement. These leadership practices are thus beneficial for both employees and organization.

Quality of life and coping of women treated for breast cancer and their caregiver. What are the interactions?

This longitudinal study analyzed the interactions between the quality of life and the coping strategies of 100 patients treated for breast cancer and their caregivers. Data were collected after diagnosis, at the end of treatment, and 6 months after treatment with the Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (QLQ-C30), Duke Health Profile and Ways of Coping Checklist for both patients and caregivers. The theoretical model was tested using a typology of patients and mixed model analyses. The quality of life of patients changed over time and no cluster effect was found. The influence of the sociodemographic characteristics, coping strategies (patients and caregivers) and the quality of life of caregivers on patient's quality of life were different according to the quality of life dimensions considered. To understand the adaptation of patients to their disease, it is therefore essential to look at whether the caregiver is capable of playing a supporting role.

Posttraumatic growth in long term breast cancer survivors: relation to coping, social support and cognitive processing.

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) has rarely been studied in long term breast cancer survivors using open interviews. In order to address the issue of how women integrate PTG in their overall cancer experience, 28 open interviews concerning changes after cancer were carried out with 5- to 15-year survivors. The analysis of results, performed using Alceste software, revealed one thematic class of PTG which was specific to women with high coping and social support and active cognitive processing. PTG theme appeared most often as a conclusion of interviews rather than in response to the question about changes after cancer.

Predicting mental quality of life in breast cancer survivors using comparison participants.

The objective of this research is to propose a comprehensive model for the prediction of long-term mental health in breast cancer survivors diagnosed 5 to 15 years earlier, compared to female participants referring to the most stressful event that occurred within the last 20 years. Nearly 300 survivors and 132 comparison participants were consulted using a questionnaire, which evaluated personality variables, transactional variables, and current mental quality of life. Structural equation modeling was used. The transactional proposed model was able to account for long-term mental health variance in both groups but was more relevant to women with breast cancer.

No impairment of quality of life 18 months after high-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: To determine prospectively intermediate-term toxicity and quality of life (QoL) of prostate cancer patients after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients with localized prostate adenocarcinoma were treated by IMRT (76 Gy). Physicians scored acute and late toxicity using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Patients assessed general and prostate-specific QoL before IMRT (baseline) and at 2, 6, and 18 months using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires QLQ-C30(+3) and QLQ-PR25. RESULTS: Median age was 73 years (range, 54-80 years). Risk categories were 18% low risk, 60% intermediate risk, and 22% high risk; 45% of patients received hormonal therapy (median duration, 6 months). The incidence of urinary and bowel toxicity immediately after IMRT was, respectively, 38% and 13% (Grade 2) and 2% and none (Grade 3); at 18 months it was 15% and 11% (Grade 2) and none (Grade 3). Significant worsening of QoL was reported at 2 months with regard to fatigue (+11.31, p = 1.10(-7)), urinary symptoms (+9.07, p = 3.10(-11)), dyspnea (+7.27, p = 0.008), and emotional (-7.02, p = 0.002), social (-6.36, p = 0.003), cognitive (-4.85, p = 0.004), and physical (-3.39, p = 0.007) functioning. Only fatigue (+5.86, p = 0.003) and urinary symptoms (+5.86, p = 0.0004) had not improved by 6 months. By 18 months all QoL scores except those for dyspnea (+8.02, p = 0.01) and treatment-related symptoms (+4.24, p = 0.01) had returned to baseline. These adverse effects were exacerbated by hormonal therapy. CONCLUSION: High-dose IMRT with accurate positioning induces only a temporary worsening of QoL.

Videotaped simulated interviews to improve medical students' skills in disclosing a diagnosis of cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of the training course on the disclosure of a diagnosis of cancer intended for fifth year medical students of the University of Nantes. METHODS: The course comprised three sessions: (1) a group discussion that taught a six-point protocol (SPIKES) for delivering a diagnosis, (2) a videotaped simulated interview to assess protocol implementation and communication skills, and (3) feedback from a senior physician. The learning objectives were memorisation and implementation of the protocol, use of appropriate communication techniques to deal with the patient's response, and identifying one's own reactions in a stressful situation. Two types of assessments were performed before and after each session: self-assessments by the students and a quantitative and qualitative external assessment by a psychologist and senior physician. In addition, recall of the six-point protocol was assessed during the end-of-the-year examination. RESULTS: Overall, 108 students took part in the course during the 2004-2005 academic year. They felt that their competence improved after each session in terms of the three learning objectives. However, recall of the six-point protocol was inadequate. It was best among students who considered they had progressed most. CONCLUSIONS: Our training course on communication techniques helps students acquire confidence in their skills in breaking bad news by backing theory with practice and feedback. The students make progress despite the psychological stress generated by simulated real-life conditions.

Using simulated interviews to teach junior medical students to disclose the diagnosis of cancer.

BACKGROUND: Disclosing cancer is a difficult task for junior doctors. METHODS: We conducted a survey of 4th-year (of 6 years) medical students' (N = 50) expectations of training in breaking bad news and then designed a course for students in their 5th-year oncology clerkship. The course comprised (a) a group discussion that taught a 6-point protocol for delivering a diagnosis (N = 40), (b) a videotaped simulated interview with actors to assess protocol implementation and communication skills (N = 18), and (c) feedback from a senior physician. The impact of the course was assessed during the end-of-year faculty examination (N = 55). RESULTS: Most students considered breaking bad news most difficult for the diagnosis of cancer or neurodegenerative disease and desired appropriate training. Their primary concerns were attitude and choice of words. During the interview, their greatest difficulty was asking patients what they want to know. In the end-of-year examination, students who took part in both the group discussion and a simulated interview did significantly better in remembering items of the 6-point protocol than those who had only taken part in the group discussion. CONCLUSION: This pilot study shows that our course improves students' knowledge in breaking bad news such as cancer. However, its effectiveness after graduation still needs to be determined. Assessing knowledge is feasible using interviews with simulated patients in France.