Anxiety and stress in women with suspected endometrial cancer: Survey and paired observational study
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Marcus, Diana
King, Alex
Yazbek, Joseph
Hughes, Cathy
Ghaem-Maghami, Sadaf
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objective
To determine the anxiety and stress levels of women with suspected endometrial cancer and factors affecting this.
Methods
Prospective survey and paired observational study of consecutive women with suspected endometrial cancer in a rapid access gynaecology clinic. Structured questionnaire including a GAD-7 anxiety test and a modified stress thermometer were used. Patients ranked their perception of a cancer diagnosis on 0-5 Likert scale (0 = confident not cancer and 5 = cancer). Patients requiring an endometrial tissue biopsy were asked to rank their pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS), this was paired with the survey results.
Results
250 patients completed the study and 23 of which underwent an endometrial tissue biopsy. The median age was 50-59 years old and 59% of women spoke English as their first language. 32% of patients had significant levels of anxiety with GAD-7 score ≥10. The median stress score was three out of five on Likert scale. GAD-7 anxiety scores were higher in women who perceived that they received insufficient information prior to clinic (sufficient information 5 vs. insufficient information 9.5, P = 0.00036) or had a disability (disability 9 vs. no disability 5.5, P = 0.00374). The median VAS score from the biopsies was seven out of 10 (range 1-10). Patients with higher anxiety levels (GAD-7 scores) were more likely to believe they had cancer P <0.00001.
Conclusions
These findings confirm high levels of anxiety and stress in women with suspected endometrial cancer. Adequate pre-clinic information is essential, particularly for minority groups.
To determine the anxiety and stress levels of women with suspected endometrial cancer and factors affecting this.
Methods
Prospective survey and paired observational study of consecutive women with suspected endometrial cancer in a rapid access gynaecology clinic. Structured questionnaire including a GAD-7 anxiety test and a modified stress thermometer were used. Patients ranked their perception of a cancer diagnosis on 0-5 Likert scale (0 = confident not cancer and 5 = cancer). Patients requiring an endometrial tissue biopsy were asked to rank their pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS), this was paired with the survey results.
Results
250 patients completed the study and 23 of which underwent an endometrial tissue biopsy. The median age was 50-59 years old and 59% of women spoke English as their first language. 32% of patients had significant levels of anxiety with GAD-7 score ≥10. The median stress score was three out of five on Likert scale. GAD-7 anxiety scores were higher in women who perceived that they received insufficient information prior to clinic (sufficient information 5 vs. insufficient information 9.5, P = 0.00036) or had a disability (disability 9 vs. no disability 5.5, P = 0.00374). The median VAS score from the biopsies was seven out of 10 (range 1-10). Patients with higher anxiety levels (GAD-7 scores) were more likely to believe they had cancer P <0.00001.
Conclusions
These findings confirm high levels of anxiety and stress in women with suspected endometrial cancer. Adequate pre-clinic information is essential, particularly for minority groups.
Date Issued
2021-08
Date Acceptance
2021-04-01
Citation
Psycho-Oncology: journal of the psychological, social and behavioral dimensions of cancer, 2021, 30 (8), pp.1939-1400
ISSN
1057-9249
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
1939
End Page
1400
Journal / Book Title
Psycho-Oncology: journal of the psychological, social and behavioral dimensions of cancer
Volume
30
Issue
8
Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Authors. Psycho-Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Sponsor
Gynaecology Cancer Research Fund T/A The Eve Appeal
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000647225900001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EVE/0026
Subjects
Science & Technology
Social Sciences
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Oncology
Psychology
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Social Sciences, Biomedical
Biomedical Social Sciences
endometrial uterus neoplasm cancer oncology stress anxiety
PATIENT SATISFACTION
INFORMATION NEEDS
INTERNET
DISTRESS
UNCERTAINTY
DIAGNOSIS
QUALITY
DEPRESSION
SYMPTOMS
DISORDER
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-04-14