The associations between knowledge, CA125 preoccupation, and distress in women with epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract

Objective: The goal of the current study was to determine how much women with ovarian cancer know about their cancer and CA125 testing and how much women focus on or are preoccupied with their CA125 levels. We also examined the direct and moderating effects of knowledge and CA125 preoccupation on two measures of distress (depressive symptoms and anxiety).

Methods: Participants were 126 women with epithelial ovarian cancer. Patients completed questionnaires of knowledge, CA125 preoccupation, and distress at the beginning of the first or a new round of chemotherapy.

Results: Both knowledge and preoccupation with CA125 levels were associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. More importantly, knowledge appeared to moderate the association between CA125 preoccupation and depressive symptoms. That is, for patients with lower levels of knowledge, more CA125 preoccupation was associated with more depressive symptoms. However, there was no such association in women with higher levels of knowledge.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that it may be possible to decrease depressive symptoms in women who are overly preoccupied or worried about their CA125 levels by improving their knowledge of aspects of their disease and the surveillance process.