Stigma in patients with rectal cancer: a community study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychosocial Oncology
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Rectal cancer significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
• Stigma is a recognized psychosocial factor affecting cancer survivors.
• The experience of stigma, especially with a colostomy, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess perceived stigma in rectal cancer patients.
• To explore the relationship between stigma, quality of life, and health outcomes.
• To evaluate the impact of stigma on healthcare utilization and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Community survey involving 420 rectal cancer patients.
• Utilized a self-rating measure for stigma and supplementary questions.
• Included 265 patients with a permanent colostomy.

Main Results:

• 50% of patients reported feeling stigmatized, with higher rates in younger patients and those with a colostomy.
• Stigma correlated with poorer health, emotional disorders, comorbidities, and disablement.
• Stigmatized patients used medical services more but reported lower satisfaction, especially regarding communication.

Conclusions:

• Perceived stigma is a significant issue for rectal cancer patients, irrespective of socioeconomic status.
• Stigma is linked to adverse health and social outcomes, including withdrawal from social activities.
• Self-rating stigma assessment provides valuable insights beyond traditional quality of life measures.