Evaluation of the status of psychosocial distress in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and analysis of its influencing factors

Abstract

Objective To investigate psychosocial distress status of hospitalized patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and then analyze its influencing factors. Methods Using the method of convenience sampling, the level of psychosocial distress of hospitalized patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was measured with psychosocial distress thermometer (DT), then by orderly classification Logistic regression analysis methods, the main factors affecting the degree of psychosocial distress were obtained. Results This study included 235 patients, and 228 patients completed the survey effectively, DT score was (4.030±2.993) points, including DT < 4 points (mild pain) accounted for 36.8% (84/228), DT 4-6 points (moderate pain) accounted for 38.2% (87/228), DT≥7 points (severe pain) accounted for 25.0% (57/228). Regression analysis showed that the economic problems, emotional problems (depression, fear, sadness), body problems (eating, oral ulcer, sleep problems), age, education degree, stressful life events in the recent year, the time of disease diagnosis, and disease recurrence were the main factors influencing the degree of psychosocial distress. Conclusions Hospitalized patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma have widespread psychosocial distress, clinical medical personnel should take individualized psychological evaluation and intervention according to the related factors of psychosocial distress in order to reduce the degree of psychosocial distress. Key words: Nasopharyngeal neoplasms; Psychosocial distress; Influencing factors