Sense of coherence and acceptance of the disease in patients with lung cancer during palliative chemotherapy

Abstract

IntroductionAn important part of the therapeutic process of patients with lung cancer undergoing palliative chemotherapy is to assess their mental well-being. Evaluation of the sense of coherence and acceptance of the disease, which reflects the degree of adaptation of the patient to live with the disease, provides information on this topic.ObjectiveThe primary objective was to assess the level of sense of coherence and acceptance of the disease in patients with lung cancer during palliative chemotherapy as well as coherence and acceptance together with socio-demographic factors. The secondary objective was to assess the economic impact of lung cancer on these patients.Material and methodsThe study involved 100 patients with lung cancer during palliative chemotherapy. The study was conducted using the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (SOC-29), the Acceptance of Illness Scale, and a socio-demographic questionnaire.ResultsThe study group consisted mainly of men (66%), people with primary/vocational education (63%) and patients living in cities (59%). The average age of respondents was 62.8 years. 45% of patients had a high level of sense of coherence, and 44% had an average level. The average overall score of SOC was 143.9 points inside the upper range of average results. Levels of a sense of comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness remained in close relation to the average level: 48.91, 51.33, and 43.66 points, respectively. The average acceptance of the disease was 45% with the average total of 27.21 points.ConclusionsMost patients during palliative chemotherapy because of lung cancer had average or high level of coherence and acceptance of the disease. The level of sense of coherence and acceptance of the disease was not affected by gender, age, education, or place of residence. Almost all patients incur costs associated with treatment, and in some of them the disease affected the source of income.

The patient’s readiness to accept the changes in life after the radical lung cancer surgery

“…The AIS score in the examined sample of lung cancer patients was 32.23 points, which means quite high level of its acceptance. However, these values are significantly higher than those of patients treated for lung cancer included in the works of other authors, who scored 27.21 points [11], 27.10 points [18] and 23.17 points. [23].…”

“…It is therefore very important for the patient to meet with a surgeon who will operate on him/her before the planned surgery. Moreover, the level of knowledge of the medical personnel about this subject and/or its improper transfer also has a significant impact on adaptation to the disease [11]. All this may lead to a number of psychological complications.…”

“…Some lung cancer patients may never even achieve adequate mental adaptation to the disease [10]. Therefore, an important part of treatment is to provide support for the patient and his/her family and to properly recognize how patients perceive the situation in which they find themselves [11], to help them adapt to cancer and to restore their mental balance. De Walden-Gałuszko [7] points to two objectives of such adaptation: the first is to deal with the problems of the disease, and the second is to deal with the changes in the quality of life caused by it.…”

Consideration of sense of coherence in a structured communication approach with stage IV lung cancer patients and their informal caregivers: a qualitative interview study

“…Improvement in treatment options and survival rates affects only subgroups of patients; still, the vast majority suffer from a high psychological burden, which can lead to reduced quality of life and distress. Anxious thoughts about the course of the disease are among the stress-related symptoms experienced by cancer patients [ 1 ]. Unaddressed psychological problems in clinical practice can have a negative impact on therapy outcome [ 2 ].…”

Sense of Coherence and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Brain Metastases

“…Research suggests that in adulthood, SOC remains relatively stable, and even after radical life events, only temporary fluctuations occur. It has been shown that SOC is unaffected by age, gender, education, and place of residence (Nowicki et al, 2019). Other research has provided evidence that neither race nor education affect SOC among patients with cancer and chronic diseases (Bruscia et al, 2008).…”