Cancer-Related Stigma and Depression in Cancer Patients in A Middle-Income Country

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the current study are to determine the depression levels of adult oncology patients in the cancer treatment phase and identify both cancer-related stigma and the factors affecting their depression levels. Methods: In this correlational study, 303 adult patients who had been treated at a medical outpatient clinic were surveyed using the convenience sampling method. The 'questionnaire for measuring attitudes toward cancer - patient version,' a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, and the beck depression inventory were used. A multivariable linear regression model was used for the analysis. Results: The questionnaire and its subscale scores indicated a positive relationship between depression and attitudes toward cancer. The predictive variables for depression were 'being younger than 40-year-old' and 'feelings of social exclusion,' which accounted for 4% of the total variance. Four factors indicating negative attitudes toward cancer were 'being more than 60-year-old,' 'higher education,' 'low income,' and 'feelings of social exclusion,' which accounted for 11% of the total variance. Conclusions: Cancer-related stigma, which underlies patients' emotional and behavioral outlooks, should be reduced in cancer patients. Members of health teams should be sensitive to cancer-related stigma.