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Targeting those with decreased meaning and peace: a supportive care opportunity

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate if an individual’s level of meaning/peace (M/P) predicts various quality of life (QOL) and mental well-being measures. To identify targets that might enhance the overall spiritual well-being and QOL of ovarian cancer patients.

Methods

Multi-site analysis of women with newly diagnosed stages II–IV ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer. Patients completed the following surveys: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Ovarian (FACT-O), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual (FACIT-Sp), Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), Herth Hope Index (HHI), and Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS). Linear regression models were created to examine the effect of M/P (FACIT-Sp) upon QOL, symptoms, and other measures of mental well-being. These models adjusted for the effect of site, race, age, stage, anaphylaxis to chemotherapy, and partner status as potential confounders.

Results

This study enrolled 104 patients from three separate sites. After adjusting for potential confounders, it was found that higher M/P predicted better QOL (FACT-O) (p < 0.0001). Higher M/P also predicted decreased death anxiety, depression, and anxiety (p ≤ 0.005). Finally, higher M/P predicted increased hope and coping scores (p ≤ 0.0005).

Conclusions

Level of M/P is associated with several important mental and physical health states. This information may allow providers to identify patients at increased risk for mental/physical distress and may facilitate early referral to targeted psychotherapy interventions focused on improving patient QOL and decreasing anxiety and depression.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health through MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Support Grant CA016672. This research was also supported by the Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Program Sprint for Life Research Award.

Conflict of interests

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

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Correspondence to Alaina J. Brown.

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Brown, A.J., Sun, C.C., Urbauer, D. et al. Targeting those with decreased meaning and peace: a supportive care opportunity. Support Care Cancer 23, 2025–2032 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2568-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2568-6

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