Emotional distress predicts palliative cancer care attitudes: The unique role of anger

Objective Although palliative care can mitigate emotional distress, distressed patients may be less likely to engage in timely palliative care. This study aims to investigate the role of emotional distress in palliative care avoidance by examining the associations of anger, anxiety, and depression w...

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Published in:Psycho-oncology (Chichester, England) England), 2023-05, Vol.32 (5), p.692-700
Main Authors: Mossman, Brenna, Perry, Laura M., Gerhart, James I., McLouth, Laurie E., Lewson, Ashley B., Hoerger, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anger
Anxiety
Anxiety - psychology
Anxiety - therapy
Attitude
Attitudes
Avoidance behavior
Cancer
depression
Depression - psychology
Depression - therapy
Emotional distress
Emotions
Female
Humans
Male
Measurement
Mental depression
Neoplasms - therapy
Oncology
Palliative care
Palliative Care - psychology
palliative medicine
Patients
Psychological Distress
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Summary:Objective Although palliative care can mitigate emotional distress, distressed patients may be less likely to engage in timely palliative care. This study aims to investigate the role of emotional distress in palliative care avoidance by examining the associations of anger, anxiety, and depression with palliative care attitudes. Methods Patients (N = 454) with heterogeneous cancer diagnoses completed an online survey on emotional distress and palliative care attitudes. Emotional distress was measured using the Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System anger, anxiety, and depression scales. The Palliative Care Attitudes Scale was used to measure palliative care attitudes. Regression models tested the impact of a composite emotional distress score calculated from all three symptom measures, as well as individual anger, anxiety, and depression scores, on palliative care attitudes. All models controlled for relevant demographic and clinical covariates. Results Regression results revealed that patients who were more emotionally distressed had less favorable attitudes toward palliative care (p 
ISSN:1057-9249
1099-1611
DOI:10.1002/pon.6113