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Illness representations and psychological distress in Indian patients with cancer: does being aware of one's cancer diagnosis make a difference?

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 21:55 authored by Mahati Chittem, Paul Norman, Pete HarrisPete Harris
BACKGROUND This study applied the Common Sense Model of illness representations to understand the psychological reactions of Indian patients with cancer who report being aware or unaware of their cancer diagnosis. METHODS Adult Indian patients with cancer (N?=?329) were asked about their understanding of their illness (to assess awareness of a cancer diagnosis), and then completed the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. RESULTS Patients who reported being unaware of their cancer diagnosis (54.1%) experienced higher levels of anxiety and depression. After controlling for awareness, education, income, cancer symptoms, and cancer stage, illness perceptions accounted for significant amounts of variance in anxiety (?R(2) ?=?0.42) and depression (?R(2) ?=?0.33). Illness coherence mediated the relationship between awareness of a cancer diagnosis and anxiety. Moderated regression analyses indicated that several relationships between illness perceptions and anxiety/depression were stronger among patients who reported being unaware of their cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS The Common Sense Model provides a useful framework for explaining the psychological reactions of Indian patients with cancer to their illness, particularly for those who report being unaware of their cancer diagnosis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Psycho-oncology

ISSN

1099-1611

Publisher

Wiley

Issue

12

Volume

24

Page range

1694-1700

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-07-29

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