Trajectories of distress in women with gynaecological cancer treated with curative-intent radiotherapy.

Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate trajectories of anxiety and depression symptoms among gynaecological cancer (GC) patients having curative-intent radiotherapy (RT) treatment and identify which patient characteristics predict anxiety and depression trajectories.

Methods And Measures: Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify unique trajectories of anxiety and depression symptoms, spanning prior to the start of RT until 12-month post-RT, among 151 GC patients in the PeNTAGOn randomized control trial. Demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed at baseline, and anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed five times over 12 months.

Avoidant adjustment predicts lower information seeking in people with lung cancer.

Background: Few studies have examined the factors that predict information seeking by cancer patients. This study investigated the influence of different styles of adjustment to cancer, information goals and information needs on the information seeking by lung cancer patients.

Method: Lung cancer patients were recruited at their first appointment with their radiation oncologist and completed two questionnaires, one month apart, containing the Patient Information Needs Questionnaire, Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, the number of information sources accessed and a purpose-built measure of cancer-related personal goals.

Adjustment to cancer and the information needs of people with lung cancer.

Objective: Although typically high, the need for information varies between cancer patients. Few studies, however, have examined the factors that predict patient information needs. This study investigated the influence of different styles of adjustment to cancer on information needs.