Mediating Effect of Illness Perception on Psychological Distress in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Background A cancer diagnosis is a life-threatening event, but studies on psychological distress in patients with cancer after diagnosis are relatively limited, particularly those in early-stage cancer. Objectives On the basis of Leventhal's common-sense model of self-regulation, this study examined the mediating effects of illness perception on psychological distress and identified the factors influencing illness perception in patients with newly diagnosed gastric cancer. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and a mediation analysis was performed to determine the role of illness perception in the relationship between social support, the presence of physical symptoms, satisfaction with patient education, and psychological distress. Results Participants were 184 patients with recently diagnosed early gastric cancer who are waiting for surgery in a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. The population had a moderate level of psychological distress. Social support, physical symptoms, and satisfaction with patient education significantly influenced illness perception (β = −0.14, P = .048; β = 0.18, P = .015; β = −0.17, P = .019, respectively), and illness perception had a full mediation effect between these 3 variables and psychological distress (β = 0.66, P < .001). Conclusion Healthcare providers need to focus on patients' psychological distress following a diagnosis of cancer because this distress could be easily overlooked in clinical settings, even in patients with early-stage cancer. Implication for Practice Healthcare providers might alleviate patients' psychological distress by improving unrealistic illness perceptions, alleviating physical symptoms, and providing clear and sufficient patient education in patients with cancer after diagnosis.

Examining the levels of psychological support available to patients with haematological cancer in England: a mixed methods study

“…Previous studies have reported that the provision of patient education could be a substantial modifiable factor in improving illness perception and reducing psychological distress. 37 The theoretical framework provided by the Common Sense Self-Regulatory Model offers a systematic approach to better understanding the relationships between variables that influence psychological distress and can be used to better understand distress in patients with haematological cancer. The model assumes that when people receive stimuli such as a cancer diagnosis, cancer progression or symptoms, they form an illness perception.…”

The Illness Perceptions and Coping Experiences of Patients with Colorectal Cancer and Their Spousal Caregivers: A Qualitative Study

“…IP reflects individual understandings and explanations about a current disease or current symptoms, including cognitive and emotional perceptions, based on preserved knowledge and disease experiences. The vital significance and influence of IP in psychological research in the rehabilitation of patients with malignancy has also been gradually recognized and explored in recent years [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ], including CRC [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Frailty, Illness Perception and Lung Functional Exercise Adherence in Lung Cancer Patients After Thoracoscopic Surgery

“… 16 Previous studies have explored the relationship between drug belief as mediator and drug compliance, and the relationship between disease perception as mediator and psychological distress. 30 , 31 The model also provides a basis for us to explore the relationship between frailty, disease perception and lung function exercise compliance in lung cancer patients after thoracoscopic surgery. Based on the literature review and common-sense model, we will explore the mediating role of illness perception in the frailty of lung cancer patients after thoracoscopic surgery and lung function exercise adherence ( Figure 1 ).…”