Health locus of control and anxiety and depression in patients with cancer of soft tissue and bone

The aim of the study: To assess the severity of negative emotions and beliefs about health checks for patients receiving treatment for the first time and again and the assessment of whether there are correlations between beliefs about health checks and negative emotions in both groups.

Material and methods: The study included 40 patients (age 19-69 years), who were treated in the Department of Soft Tissue/ Bone Sarcoma and Melanoma of the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology in Warsaw. The study group consists of 22 patients receiving treatment for the first time and 18 patients receiving treatment again. We used The Hospital and Anxiety Scale, The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, and a questionnaire on demographics. We compared the group of patients receiving treatment for the first time with the one receiving treatment again in terms of negative emotions and beliefs about health control, and assessed the relationship between the variables in both groups.

Results: Patients receiving treatment for the first time, compared to the other group, have higher depression rates and lower rates of internal control and influence of others. In group of patients receiving treatment again, a significant negative relationship between rates of depression and internal control was established.

Conclusions: The adaptation to the cancer disease varies depending on the stage of the disease, therefore intervention should take into consideration patients’ psychological functioning.