Current status of demoralization and its relationship with medical coping style, self-efficacy and perceived social support in Chinese breast cancer patients

Abstract

Background and objectivesTo explore the current status of demoralization syndrome and its relationship with medical coping style, self efficacy and perceived social support in Chinese breast cancer patients. MethodsA total of 375 Chinese patients with breast cancer participated in this study. Data were primarily collected using questionnaires, including a general information questionnaire, the Demoralization Scale-Mandarin Version (DS-MV), the Chinese version of the Medical Coping Style Questionnaire, the Strategies Used by People to Promote Health scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. The mean value+1 standard deviation was used to determine the cutoff of DS. Associations between demoralization and other variables were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation and multivariate linear regression. ResultsThe mean score of the DS-Total was 26.95 (SD = 12.83, range = 0–60), with the prevalence of low demoralization 16.8%, medium demoralization 72.8% and high demoralization 10.4%. Demoralization was significantly associated with medical insurance (provincial, city medical insurance, and new rural cooperative medical insurance), having at least one child, type of operation (breast-conserving surgery or breast plastic surgery), income, medical coping style (i.e., resignation), self-efficacy and perceived social support (adjusted R2 = 0.539, p < 0.001). ConclusionDemoralization syndrome is a common mental disorder among Chinese patients with breast cancer. Financial status, having children, type of operation, medical coping style, self-efficacy, and perceived social support are significantly related to demoralization. It is important and necessary to have early and regular monitoring of demoralization using validated instruments specifically designed to measure it.