ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5642

RTT - Patient experience and quality of life

ESTRO 2024

tablet / laptop provided by the study team. The participants will take about 15 minutes to complete the survey. Participation is voluntary, and all responses are anonymous. Institutional Review Board (IRB) submission for approval and informed consent of the participants was obtained. No incentive will be offered for participating in the survey. Only completed survey forms are accepted; participants are able to withdraw their consent at any point and refuse to finish the remaining questions, after which the incomplete forms would be disregarded.

Results:

The cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of anxiety and depression in a large, representative sample of cancer patients scheduled for radiation therapy. The preliminary data analyzed the 52 participants whom are accrual into the survey. The basic demographics are as follows; 29 female and 23 male have participated in the survey (n=52). Majority of the participants, 76.9% are Chinese and the rest of the participants are Malays, Indians, Eurasians and other races. 29% were from the 50-59 age group and 71% of the participants were married and 88% of the participants either stayed with spouse / friend / helper, children or parents. 65% of them are currently employed and in addition, 77% of them undergoing other treatments (chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted therapy) while receiving radiation therapy. Chi-Square Tests were used to identify the level of anxiety and depression experienced. From the analyzed data, 7 female and 5 male (21%) reported to have experience borderline / abnormal anxiety while 9.6% (2 female and 3 male) experience borderline / abnormal depression. Different age group has no significant difference in level of anxiety and depression (p= 0.150 , 0.692 respectively) experienced. Different treatment sites has no significant in level of anxiety and depression (p=0.399, 0.785 respectively). However, there is a statistical significant difference (p=0.039) in the level of depression experienced for participants whom undergoing other treatments during radiation therapy.

Conclusion:

Our findings show no statistical significance indicating that cancer patients experienced anxiety and/or depression while receiving radiation therapy. However, this current data may not be an accurate representation due to the stigmatization associated with declaring mental distress in Singapore. Desire to appear nonchalant or unaffected to family and peers might inherently divert responses away from the more negative responses available in the survey. Nevertheless, there is evidence from literature to suggest that patients do experience distress during treatment. Hence, avenues to seek help, such as mental health hotlines and support groups, can help educate patients and their caretakers on effective and safe ways to manage their negative emotions.

Keywords: radiotherapy, hospital anxiety depression scale

References:

1. PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH. 2022; Available from: https://www.moh.gov.sg/resources-statistics/singapore health-facts/principal-causes-of-death.

2. Mehnert A, Hartung TJ, Friedrich M, Vehling S, Brahler E, Harter M, et al. One in two cancer patients is significantly distressed: Prevalence and indicators of distress. Psychooncology, 2018. 27(1): p. 75-82.

3. Park B, Youn S, Yi KK, Lee SY, Lee JS, and Chung S. The Prevalence of Depression among Patients with the Top Ten Most Common Cancers in South Korea. Psychiatry Investig, 2017. 14(5): p. 618-625.