Distress Tolerance in Patients with Metastatic and Non-metastatic Breast Cancer: A Single-center Experience

Authors : Gülçin Şahingöz Erdal, Simge Seren Kirlioğlu Balcioğlu, Mustafa Nuray Namli

Pages : 409-414

Doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1266533

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Publication Date : 2023-07-10

Article Type : Research Article

Abstract :Background: Psychosocial difficulties occur in patients with breast cancer for many reasons including long-term treatments, organ loss, or deformity. Accordingly, we aimed to compare differences in distress tolerance levels between metastatic and non-metastatic female patients diagnosed with breast cancer and receiving chemotherapy. We also evaluated the possible relationship between distress tolerance levels and with background and clinical characteristics of the patients. Methods: 208 eligible female patients with breast cancer who received at least three chemotherapy sessions were included in our study. According to the presence of metastasis, the patients were divided into two groups those receiving palliative (metastatic, n=126) and adjuvant (non-metastatic, n=82) chemotherapy. Besides the study-specific data form, the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) was applied to patients to assess distress tolerance levels. Results: The age of participants was statistically significant between the non-metastatic and metastatic patients(p<0.05). There was no significant statistical difference in DTS scores between non-metastatic and metastatic patients. DTS levels were significantly correlated with the presence of inpatient admission. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the absence of inpatient admission was significantly associated with DTS levels in patients with breast cancer(B:-13.792, p<0.01). Conclusion: Distress tolerance is important in such a long-term illness to cope with the difficulties in the treatment. DTS may not be directly related to the stage of illness. Since inpatient admission reduces distress tolerance, it may be important in the treatment processes of these patients. Preventing possible causes of hospitalization may have positive effects on the capacity of these patients to cope with stress.
Keywords : breast cancer, distress, distress tolerance, hospitalization, metastasis