Correlates of posttraumatic stress in cancer patients and their family caregivers across two years following diagnosis
Menée auprès de 130 dyades constituées de patients atteints d'un cancer colorectal et de leur aidant, cette étude identifie les facteurs associés à un stress post-traumatique pendant les 2 années qui suivent le diagnostic de cancer
Objective: To examine risk-factors of cancer-related PTSS in the 2-years post-diagnosis in adult colorectal cancer patients and caregivers. Methods: Patients with colorectal cancer and their caregivers (N = 130 dyads) self-reported sociodemographic, psychosocial, and medical factors at diagnosis/treatment initiation (T1), at 1- (T2), and 2-year (T3) post-diagnosis. Cancer-related PTSS were assessed, and path analysis examined associations between proposed correlates and PTSS. Results: Among patients, higher neuroticism and greater physical symptom distress were concurrently associated with higher PTSS (Bs ≥ 0.10, ps ≤ 0.02); greater physical symptom distress at T1 and greater social support at T2 were associated with higher PTSS at T3 (Bs ≥ 0.37, ps ≤ 0.04). Among caregivers, female gender, higher neuroticism (Bs ≥ 0.12, ps < 0.01), and lower social support (Bs ≤ −0.24, ps ≤ 0.02) were associated with higher concurrent PTSS; lower patient physical symptom distress and social support at T1 (Bs ≤ −0.27, ps ≤ 0.03) and longer hours spent caregiving at T2 (B = 0.03, p = 0.05) were associated with higher PTSS at T3. Conclusions: Findings identify cancer-specific risk factors (physical symptoms, hours caregiving), in addition to established risk factors (female, neuroticism, social support) in non-medical populations. The identified subgroups should receive ongoing screening and psychosocial referral for cancer-related PTSS.