Naslov
Psychological status and illness perceptions in patients with malignant melanoma

Autori
Kotrulja, Lena ; Vurnek, Maja ; Buljan, Marija ; Šitum, Mirna

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, ostalo

Izvornik
15th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : abstracts / - , 2006, Xx-yy

Skup
Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (5 ; 2006)

Mjesto i datum
Rodos, Grčka, 04.10.2006. - 08.10.2006

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
illness perceptions ; psychological status ; melanoma

Sažetak
Melanoma is the fastest growing solid tumor and accounts for 79% of skin cancer-related deaths. Research has identified that distress is frequently associated with a diagnosis of cancer and may slow treatment-seeking and recovery, increasing morbidity and even mortality through faster disease course. Melanoma patients are subject to different degrees of psychosocial distress. The way patients see and understand their illness can have a significant influence on their psychosocial status and quality of life. Since most of the patients don't talk openly about their distress, worries and problems, the identification of patients in need of psychosocial intervention is necessary. Psychosocial interventions can result in significant benefit in terms of psychosocial status and long-term survival in patients with malignant melanoma. Prospective clinical trial is in course at the Clinic for dermatovenereology, Clinical Hospital "Sestre Milosrdnice", in which psychological status and illness perceptions are being assessed. Standardized psychological questionnaires are being used in the trial: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) and Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (brief-IPQ). Descriptive statistics will be calculated for all questionnaires, and t-tests will be used to test for the differences between genders, age groups and patients with different illness severity. Correlations between Illness Perceptions Questionnaire and all the other measures of psychosocial status will be caaalculated. The results from melanoma patients will be compared to the results of other dermatological patients and with the normative data for healthy population. Depending on the results of this trial, psychosocial interventions will be organized at the Clinic. We expect that melanoma patients experience psychological distress what will be reflected in measures of psychological status.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA