Stigma and its correlates in people living with lung cancer: A cross-sectional study from China.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the level of stigma and identify the correlates of stigma among lung cancer patients in China. In total, 283 lung cancer patients were recruited from a tertiary cancer center in China by the convenience sampling method and completed a demographic, disease-related information and situational characteristics questionnaire and self-reported measures assessing stigma, state self-esteem, and coping self-efficacy. The mean stigma score was moderate (2.38 ± 0.45). Stigma was significantly and negatively associated with state self-esteem (r = -0.607, P < .001) and coping self-efficacy (r = -0.424, P < .001). Multivariable linear regression showed that age, cancer stage, negative changes (ie, in financial burden, body image, and family relationship), cancer disclosure, perceived blame, state self-esteem, and coping self-efficacy accounted for 49.9% of the variance in stigma. Stigma is a widespread psychosocial phenomenon among patients with lung cancer in China. Health care policy-makers and professionals should pay more attention to this issue and take effective measures to address stigma among lung cancer patients by improving their state self-esteem and coping self-efficacy, encouraging cancer disclosure and providing support for adjusting to negative changes after diagnosis.