Cancer patients experience a high level of distress and depression. The understanding of its psychological correlates such as demoralisation and positive emotion helps in the management of these conditions. The study objectives are to examine the correlation between demoralisation and positive emotion, defined as discrete pleasant emotions, such as joy, pride, contentment or love, with depression and distress in cancer patients. The sociodemographic and clinical associated factors are also studied. This cross-sectional study recruited 178 cancer patients from a local university hospital. They were assessed using the Malay versions of the Demoralization Scales (DS-M), Positive Emotion Rating Scale (PERS), Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) Scale, and Distress Thermometer. The mean age of the subjects was 53.6 + 16.51 years old, with 24% of them were in the advanced stage of cancer. Almost 38% of the subject were demoralised. Of them, 61.2% were depressed, 52.2% had low positive emotion, and 68.7% were distressed. Demoralisation was positively correlated with depression (r=0.78, p<0.01) and distress level (r=0.64, p<0.01) but negatively correlated with positive emotion (r=-0.69, p<0.01). In conclusion, demoralisation was highly prevalent and strongly associated with depression and distress in cancer patients. Assessment and early detection of demoralisation among cancer patients should receive more attention. Future studies on the management of this condition are needed.
Demoralisation in Cancer Patients: The Association with Distress, Depression and Positive Emotion
Abstrak
Pesakit kanser mengalami tekanan dan kemurungan yang tinggi. Pemahaman tentang hubungan psikologinya seperti demoralisasi dan emosi positif membantu dalam pengurusan keadaan ini. Objektif kajian adalah untuk mengkaji hubungan antara demoralisasi dan emosi positif, iaitu emosi yang menyenangkan seperti kegembiraan, kebanggaan, kepuasan dan sayang, dengan kemurungan dan tekanan bagi pesakit kanser. Faktor yang berkaitan dengan sosiodemografi dan klinikal juga dikaji. Kajian ini merekrut 178 pesakit kanser dari hospital universiti tempatan. Mereka dinilai menggunakan skala "Demoralization Scale" versi Bahasa Melayu (DS-M), skala "Positive Emotion Rating Scale" (PERS), skala "Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale" (CESD) dan skala "Distress Thermometer". Umur rata-rata subjek adalah 53.6 + 16.51 tahun, dengan 24% dari mereka berada pada tahap lanjut kanser. Hampir 38% subjek mengalami demoralisasi. Daripada jumlah itu, 61.2% mengalami kemurungan, 52.2% mempunyai emosi positif rendah, dan 68.7% mengalami tekanan. Demoralisasi berkorelasi positif dengan kemurungan (r=0.78, p<0.01) dan tahap tekanan (r=0.64, p<0.01) tetapi berkorelasi negatif dengan emosi positif (r=-0.69, p<0.01). Kesimpulannya, demoralisasi sangat lazim dan berkaitan dengan kemurungan dan tekanan bagi pesakit barah. Penilaian dan pengesanan awal demoralisasi dalam kalangan pesakit barah harus mendapat perhatian yang lebih. Kajian lanjut mengenai pengurusan keadaan ini diperlukan.
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