Psychosocial stresses and adjustment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients in Hong Kong: a panel study.
OBJECTIVE
This article reports the results of a study conducted in Hong Kong from November 1992 to May 1994 on patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The objective was to understand stresses and the short-term psychosocial adjustment outcome throughout the course of the illness.


METHODS
A cognitive appraisal model of stress was used, and short-term psychosocial adjustment outcome was measured by psychological distress, social maladjustment to illness, and health status as perceived by the patients and as viewed by the oncologist. A panel study was adopted as the research design. A total of 125 patients were interviewed in the diagnostic phase, dropping to 119 in the treatment phase and 111 in the post-treatment phase. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews by a structured instrument, the reliability of which had been evaluated immediately before the start of the study.


RESULTS
The patients' level of anxiety was highest in the diagnostic phase, and gradually declined in the treatment and the post-treatment phases. Level of depression remained unchanged in the diagnostic and treatment phases, and decreased in the post-treatment phase; social maladjustment to illness and health status were poorest in the treatment phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Health professionals can sharpen the focus of their work by helping nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients to lower their psychological distress in the diagnostic phase, enhance their social functioning, and improve their health status in the treatment and the post-treatment phases.
Ma
L C
LC
Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires