Coping strategy influences quality of life in patients with advanced lung cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with advanced lung cancer expierence high physical symptom burden with substantial psychological distress. Early palliative care (EPC) addresses the complex suportive care needs improving QOL and mood. The mechanisms are uncertain. We examined wether coping strategy influences QOL in patients with depressive or anxiety symptoms. Materials and Methods: We conducted a multi-centre cross-sectional study o f patients with advanced lung cancer. 125 patients completed assessments of AOL (QLQ-C15-PAL), depressive and anxiety symptoms (HADS) and coming (brief COPE questionnaire). The data were analyzed by descreptive statistics. To determine whether coping strategy has a moderating effect on the relationship between mood and QOL, the interaction term between mood and coping strategy was added in a multiple regression model. Results: Positive reframing correlates with global QOL (r=.25, p Conclusion: Patients with advanced lung cancer using positive reframing as coping strategy experience higher QOL. Self-blame leads to more insomnia and worse emotional wellbeing. Anxious patients using emotional coping have higher QOL, those using denial have lower QOL. Patients with depressive symptoms using positive refraiming as coping strategy experience higer QOL. Providing skills to cope effectively could impact QOL in these patients.