Comorbidităţile psihiatrice şi factorii sociali care influenţează diagnosticul tardiv la pacienţii de sex masculin cu cancer

Abstract

Introduction. At present, there are very few studies in the scientific literature that analyze the impact of the association between psychiatric disorders and social factors at the time of the first medical consultation of the oncologic patient, resulting in a less favorable diagnosis. Objectives. The evaluation of psychiatric comorbidities and the social factors influencing the delayed diagnosis for male cancer patients. Methodology. A battery of tests was administered to 87 male patients diagnosed with different types of cancer, treated in the Oncology Department of the CF2 Clinical Hospital in Bucharest. The level of self-esteem was assessed with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the coping mechanisms were investigated with the Cognitive-Emotional Coping Questionnaire. The inclusion criteria for this study were: gender, age of 18 years or older, histopathological confirmation of cancer, and at least one type of oncologic treatment performed. Results. The analysis of the answers to the administered questionnaires showed that 13.04% of patients had moderate and severe symptoms of depression, 54.03% presented moderate to severe anxiety disorder, and 29,89% had important levels of perceived stress. Married patients tend to go to medical consultations during the first three months (66.6%), whereas only 10.5% of them wait for longer than one year, while the divorced, unmarried or widowed patients tend to present at the doctor’s office after three months. Conclusions. This study shows that marital status, presence of children in the family, anxiety and coping strategies are a part of the characteristics that influence the swiftness with which a cancer diagnosis can be established in male patients. Marital status and the presence of children in the family have a positive impact on the duration of time needed to get medical attention, whereas anxiety and several coping strategies determine a longer waiting period.