Demoralization in Cancer Patients and Related Factors in Taiwan

Abstract

Background: Demoralization frequently occurs in hospice, cancer, and critically ill patients. Severe demoralization can lead to suicidal ideation, making this issue of great import to healthcare providers.

Objective: The aim of this study is to inform nursing professionals of the risk factors of demoralization in cancer patients via investigating its relationship with cancer patients' demographic data and disease characteristics.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study using a structured questionnaire including assessments of demographic data and disease characteristics, as well as the Demoralization Scale Mandarin version. Univariate logistic regression was used to explore the relations between demoralization and these other variables.

Results: The mean (SD) Demoralization Scale Mandarin version score was 30.08 (13.68) (range, 0-73). Demoralization was significantly related to age (r = 0.1, P = .050), marital status (r = 0.11, P = .034), education (r = 0.17, P < .001), monthly income (r = 0.22, P < .001), disease status (r = 0.10, P = .050), and treatment type (r = 0.12, P = .014).

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the factors influencing demoralization among cancer patients. Future studies might expand to include patients with other chronic or critical illnesses or disadvantaged groups to better understand the prevalence of demoralization. This would help draw more attention from clinical healthcare providers, healthcare institutions, and other healthcare authorities to demoralization.

Implications or practice: The results provide reference data for nursing professionals about the care of cancer patients.