title: Nurses' perceptions of depression in patients with cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our study aimed at examining nurses' perceptions of depression in cancer patients and their role in its management.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed questionnaire-based semi-directed interviews. Participants were asked to classify 22 symptoms (related and specific to depression in cancer patients, related but not specific, and unrelated) as "very important," "important," "less important," or "not important" for the diagnosis of depression in cancer patients at two different timepoints (baseline and after a video education program). They were also asked to complete a questionnaire exploring their perceptions about depression and of their role in its systematic screening. We recruited nurses caring for cancer patients from four different departments (palliative care unit, hematology, medical oncology, and thoracic oncology) at an academic medical center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We interviewed 18 nurses and found that they had a good general knowledge of depression in cancer patients, with the majority of them being able to distinguish specific and important symptoms from nonspecific symptoms. Some nurses considered depression as a second-line symptom, and most did not employ a screening tool in their daily practice. All considered that they had a role to play in the management of depression, even as they acknowledged lacking specific training for that task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that limited resources—especially lack of training—affects nurses' ability to correctly manage depression in their cancer patients.
authors: Clinique La Chavannerie,Groupe Orpea,Chaponost,France.
authors: Wadih
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7740-1476
authors: W
authors: Rhondali
authors: Institut de Psychologie, Université Lyon 2,Bron,France.
authors: Tanguy
authors: T
authors: Leprince
authors: Institut de Psychologie, Université Lyon 2,Bron,France.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Chirac
authors: Laboratoire EA 4129,Santé-Individu-Société,Université Lyon 1,Lyon,France.
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Terra
authors: Centre de Soins palliatifs, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud,Hospices Civils de Lyon,Lyon,France.
authors: Marilène
authors: M
authors: Filbet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cancer; Depression; Nurses