Predictors of Depression Among Older African American Cancer Patients

Overview

Journal Cancer Nurs

Specialties Nursing
Oncology

Date 2010 Feb 10

PMID 20142741

Citations 21

Authors

Mansi Agarwal

Jill B Hamilton

Charles E Moore

Jamie L Crandell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Depression is becoming an increasing concern in cancer patients because of its impact on quality of life. Although risk factors of having depression have been examined in the literature, there has been no research examining these factors in older African American cancer patients.

Objective: This study explores the demographic and illness-related risk factors in older African American cancer patients.

Methods: Two hundred eighty-three patients were recruited from outpatient oncology clinics. These older African American patients completed a questionnaire that included the Geriatric Depression Scale as well as sociodemographic characteristics and medical information. chi2 Tests, trend tests, and logistic regression were used to identify the demographic and illness-related factors that predict depression in the sample.

Results: The overall prevalence of depression in the sample was 27.2%. Younger age (<65 years), employment status, proximity to family, and multiple symptoms due to cancer or treatment were independent predictors of depression.

Conclusion: This study represents the first attempt to describe the risk factors of depression within older African American cancer patients. Findings indicate a high prevalence of depression in African American cancer patients which can be attributed to identifiable risk factors.

Implications For Practice: An understanding of the risk factors associated with depression can be used to identify those cancer patients at risk for depression and initiate early interventions to improve psychological outcomes and lessen the potential burden of cancer on these patients.

Citing Articles

A systematic review of risk factors associated with depression and anxiety in cancer patients.

Ikhile D, Ford E, Glass D, Gremesty G, van Marwijk H PLoS One. 2024; 19(3):e0296892.

PMID: 38551956 PMC: 10980245. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296892.

Depression and Breast Cancer in Morocco: Prevalence and Associated Factors.

Benallel K, El Kilali R, Benjelloun R, Kadiri M Int J Breast Cancer. 2023; 2023:3277929.

PMID: 38054202 PMC: 10695691. DOI: 10.1155/2023/3277929.

Association of active coping to unfair treatment with perceived stress and depressive symptoms in African Americans: mh-grid study.

Ojebuoboh A, Gonzalez-Feliciano A, Brown K, Khan R, Xu R, DeRoo L BMC Psychiatry. 2022; 22(1):134.

PMID: 35189857 PMC: 8862227. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-03772-y.

Psychological Adaptive Mechanism Maturity, Age, and Depression Symptoms in Advanced-Stage Cancer Patients.

Beresford T, Teschke P, Hipp D, Ronan P Front Psychol. 2021; 12:718476.

PMID: 34764906 PMC: 8575870. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.718476.

Abu Sharour L, Al Omari O, Bani Salameh A, Yehia D J Res Nurs. 2021; 25(2):114-125.

PMID: 34394615 PMC: 7932204. DOI: 10.1177/1744987119846177.

References

Haisfield-Wolfe M, McGuire D, Soeken K, Geiger-Brown J, De Forge B . Prevalence and correlates of depression among patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review of implications for research. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2009; 36(3):E107-25. DOI: 10.1188/09.ONF.E107-E125. View

Ellis J, Lin J, Walsh A, Lo C, Shepherd F, Moore M . Predictors of referral for specialized psychosocial oncology care in patients with metastatic cancer: the contributions of age, distress, and marital status. J Clin Oncol. 2008; 27(5):699-705. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2007.15.4864. View

Schroevers M, Ranchor A, Sanderman R . The role of age at the onset of cancer in relation to survivors' long-term adjustment: a controlled comparison over an eight-year period. Psychooncology. 2004; 13(10):740-52. DOI: 10.1002/pon.780. View

Lien C, Lin H, Kuo I, Chen M . Perceived uncertainty, social support and psychological adjustment in older patients with cancer being treated with surgery. J Clin Nurs. 2009; 18(16):2311-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02549.x. View

Bekelman D, Rumsfeld J, Havranek E, Yamashita T, Hutt E, Gottlieb S . Symptom burden, depression, and spiritual well-being: a comparison of heart failure and advanced cancer patients. J Gen Intern Med. 2009; 24(5):592-8. PMC: 2669863. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-009-0931-y. View

Mystakidou K, Tsilika E, Parpa E, Kyriakopoulos D, Malamos N, Damigos D . Personal growth and psychological distress in advanced breast cancer. Breast. 2008; 17(4):382-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2008.01.006. View

Fuller C, Schillerstrom J, Jones 3rd W, Boersma M, Royall D, Fuss M . Prospective evaluation of pretreatment executive cognitive impairment and depression in patients referred for radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2008; 72(2):529-33. PMC: 11372436. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.12.040. View

Williams D, Gonzalez H, Neighbors H, Nesse R, Abelson J, Sweetman J . Prevalence and distribution of major depressive disorder in African Americans, Caribbean blacks, and non-Hispanic whites: results from the National Survey of American Life. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007; 64(3):305-15. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.64.3.305. View

Yang H, Schuler T . Marital quality and survivorship: slowed recovery for breast cancer patients in distressed relationships. Cancer. 2008; 115(1):217-28. PMC: 2614459. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.23964. View

10.

Pasquini M, Biondi M . Depression in cancer patients: a critical review. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2007; 3:2. PMC: 1797173. DOI: 10.1186/1745-0179-3-2. View

11.

Mosher C, Danoff-Burg S . A review of age differences in psychological adjustment to breast cancer. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2006; 23(2-3):101-14. DOI: 10.1300/j077v23n02_07. View

12.

Mehnert A, Koch U . Psychological comorbidity and health-related quality of life and its association with awareness, utilization, and need for psychosocial support in a cancer register-based sample of long-term breast cancer survivors. J Psychosom Res. 2008; 64(4):383-91. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.12.005. View

13.

Kissane D . Beyond the psychotherapy and survival debate: the challenge of social disparity, depression and treatment adherence in psychosocial cancer care. Psychooncology. 2008; 18(1):1-5. DOI: 10.1002/pon.1493. View

14.

Ghods B, Roter D, Ford D, Larson S, Arbelaez J, Cooper L . Patient-physician communication in the primary care visits of African Americans and whites with depression. J Gen Intern Med. 2008; 23(5):600-6. PMC: 2324146. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-008-0539-7. View

15.

Arthur A, Jagger C, Lindesay J, Graham C, Clarke M . Using an annual over-75 health check to screen for depression: validation of the short Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS15) within general practice. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 1999; 14(6):431-9. View

16.

Montazeri A . Health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients: a bibliographic review of the literature from 1974 to 2007. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2008; 27:32. PMC: 2543010. DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-27-32. View

17.

Hamilton J, Stewart B, Crandell J, Lynn M . Development of the Ways Of Helping Questionnaire: a measure of preferred coping strategies for older African American cancer survivors. Res Nurs Health. 2009; 32(3):243-59. PMC: 2752043. DOI: 10.1002/nur.20321. View

18.

Lloyd-Williams M, Shiels C, Taylor F, Dennis M . Depression--an independent predictor of early death in patients with advanced cancer. J Affect Disord. 2008; 113(1-2):127-32. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2008.04.002. View

19.

Dellasega C, Morris D . The MMSE to assess the cognitive state of elders. Mini-Mental State Examination. J Neurosci Nurs. 1993; 25(3):147-52. DOI: 10.1097/01376517-199306000-00003. View

20.

Breen S, Baravelli C, Schofield P, Jefford M, Yates P, Aranda S . Is symptom burden a predictor of anxiety and depression in patients with cancer about to commence chemotherapy?. Med J Aust. 2009; 190(S7):S99-104. DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02480.x. View