Psychosocial support utilization among breast cancer patients experiencing reproductive concerns: A cross-sectional
Tamar Parmet1,2, Alaina L Carr3, Sydneyjane Roberts1
1Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Objectives:
Many patients with breast cancer (BC) experience reproductive concerns that contribute to psychosocial distress. Although many patients experience elevated levels of distress, few pursue psychosocial support (PSS) to manage their distress. We characterized the associations between BC patients' PSS utilization and demoralization, hopelessness, anxiety, depression, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and previous experiences with psychosocial providers.
Methods:
One hundred and four BC patients with reproductive concerns were recruited. Bivariate correlations assessed the relationships between measures of psychosocial distress and health care utilization. Independent logistic regressions were run to evaluate the unique associations between predictors of interest and PSS utilization.
Results:
Most participants (57.7%) reported utilizing PSS during treatment. Higher levels of demoralization (OR = 1.109, p = 0.004) and HRQOL (OR = 0.964, p = 0.010) were significantly associated with increased odds of PSS utilization. Prior satisfaction with mental healthcare practitioners was also significantly associated with psychosocial utilization (OR = 0.561, p = 0.018). Anxiety, depression, and hopelessness were not significantly associated with PSS utilization.
Conclusions:
These data underscore the role of demoralization, HRQOL, and prior mental health care experiences in BC patient's PSS utilization. Many distress screening tools assess patients for the presence of depression and anxiety, but do not assess for demoralization. Thus, incorporating demoralization into screening tools may better identify and engage BC patients with reproductive concerns in PSS services.
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