title: Distress and coping strategies among patients with skin cancer.
abstract: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer world-wide, yet few studies have investigated the psychosocial implications of this disease. The current study provides an account of the distress experienced by patients with NMSC and the coping strategies they use to deal with the NMSC diagnosis. The results demonstrate that 19 % of the patients experience significant levels of psychological distress. Furthermore, those who engaged in avoidant coping strategies (specifically behavioural avoidance) were more likely to experience distress. These findings highlight the importance of further investigating this patient population, since patients report difficulties adjusting to this disease and its treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Education Building, 3700 McTavish Street, Room 614, Montreal, QC, H3A 1Y2, Canada. nicole.roberts@mail.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Czajkowska
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Radiotis
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Körner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000523:psychology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011792:Quebec; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*