TITLE:
Identify Psychological Distress among Cancer Patients: A Study at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro Tanzania
AUTHORS:
Godfrey Livingstone Mbowe, Simion Ambakisye, Dorothy Lubawa
KEYWORDS:
Cancer, Psychological Distress
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Medical Psychology,
Vol.12 No.4,
October
9,
2023
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: The major objective of this study was to identify
the Psychological Distress among Cancer Patients at KCMC in Moshi
Municipality, Kilimanjaro Tanzania. The specific objectives were to identify
the psychological distress among cancer patients at KCMC, and to explore
relationship between demographic characteristics of cancer patients and psychological
distress. Methodology: The study used a sample of 175 respondents. The
study was cross-sectional design, a quantitative approach. The data gathered
for the study were analyzed using quantitative data analyzing software SPSS
version 20 and were visually presented using descriptive statistics such as
frequency distribution of tables, and figures. Result: The findings of
the study showed that majority of the respondents (cancer patients) 105 (60.0%)
were experiencing psychological distress among the cancer patients. The cancer
patients who are divorced and widow them experience anxiety (p-value 0.01)
significant. Those who were low in education were significantly affected with
(p-value 0.03) anxiety and (p-value 0.01) depression. The variable in economic;
the less satisfaction were significantly (p-value 0.01) were experience
adjustment disorder. Conclusion and Recommendation: The study recommends that it is important to involve psychologists in
the treatment team among the cancer patients to address psychological
distresses they experience. Also Oncology
Department should develop interest of doing research on psychological distress management because study showed
60% cancer patients suffer with psychological distress.