RESUMO
(1) Introduction: Cancer diagnosis has been related to depression, anxiety, and distress, as well as to post-traumatic growth (PTG). One of the mediating variables for emotional response is thought style (rumination, cognitive avoidance, and cognitive engagement). (2) Aim: To identify the relationship between thought style and emotional responses to cancer. A secondary aim was to identify the relationship between emotional responses and inflammatory immunological biomarkers. (3) Method: A total of 115 patients with cancer were included in the study. Before initiating cancer treatment, patients were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), distress thermometer, and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Patients provided their most recent blood biometry. (4) Results: Rumination correlated with anxiety, depression, and distress. Cognitive avoidance correlated with PTG (-0.240) and distress (-0.209). Cognitive engagement correlated with PTG (0.393). Regarding thought style and biomarkers, a negative correlation was observed for absolute neutrophils with cognitive avoidance (-0.271) and rumination (0.305). Regarding biomarkers and emotional responses, there was a negative correlation between PTG and absolute lymphocytes (-0.291). There was also a correlation between PTG and neutrophils (0.357) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (0.295). (5) Conclusions: Thought style is related to the emotional response to a cancer diagnosis; rumination is related to depression, distress, and anxiety; and cognitive engagement is related to PTG. PTG is related to inflammation and immunological biomarkers.
Assuntos
Ansiedade , Biomarcadores , Depressão , Emoções , Neoplasias , Crescimento Psicológico Pós-Traumático , Humanos , Neoplasias/psicologia , Masculino , Feminino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Biomarcadores/sangue , Idoso , Adulto , Depressão/psicologia , Ansiedade/psicologia , Ruminação CognitivaRESUMO
El cáncer es una de las principales causas de muerte en el mundo. Las percepciones sobre esta enfermedad impactan en la calidad de vida de los pacientes y del personal de salud. El objetivo de esta investigación fue conocer la percepción del cáncer en pacientes oncológicos y profesionales de la salud y compararlas entre sí. La investigación se realizó en un centro oncológico del estado de Querétaro, México, y se trató de un estudio cualitativo, en el que se utilizó la técnica "listados libres" de la antropología cognitiva. Constó de 10 pacientes con cáncer y 10 profesionales de la salud. El instrumento utilizado fue el de "listados libres". El análisis realizado fue perceptual cualitativo categorizando las palabras mencionadas en "listados libres" y un análisis de contenido temático. Se analizaron frecuencias y porcentajes de categorías y posteriormente se compararon entre personal y pacientes. En los resultados, se identificaron categorías de emociones displacenteras, afrontamiento, tratamientos y oportunidad en ambos grupos. Las diferencias identificadas fueron que los profesionales incluían emociones displacenteras en ellos mismos, elementos de relación médico paciente y aspectos administrativos-económicos. Se concluye que existen similitudes entre profesionales de salud y pacientes en la percepción del cáncer, sin embargo, hay diferencias que deben ser tomadas en cuenta, como que el personal de salud también presenta malestar emocional.
In Mexico and the world, cancer is one of the leading causes of death. Associations with this disease can have an impact on the quality of life of patients and health professionals practising oncology. As a result, it was considered relevant to study the social representations (SR) of cancer and to make a comparison between oncology patients and health professionals. Methods: The study was conducted in an oncology centre in the state of Querétaro, Mexico, and the sample consisted of 10 patients and 10 health professionals. Using qualitative perceptual analysis, it categorised the words mentioned in "free listings" and thematic analysis. Results: Categories of unpleasant emotions, coping, treatment and opportunity were identified in both groups. There were differences between SRs of cancer patients and health professionals; professionals included displeasing emotions in themselves (in addition to patients), elements of the doctor-patient relationship and administrative-economic aspects. Conclusions: There are some similarities between health professionals and cancer patients in terms of cancer perception; however, there are differences that should be considered. One of them is that health staff also present emotional discomfort (even if they are not the ones who have the disease), patients did not present the category "death". In contrast, health staff did, this as well as the administrative-economic category. These findings allow us to explore the perceptions of staff and patients to determine future lines of research.