Prevalence and predictors of psychological distress among patients with thyroid cancer during transitional period in China: a cross-sectional study

Objective This study aimed to explore the psychological distress and its predictors among Chinese patients with thyroid cancer during their transitional period from hospital to home. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in a cancer hospital in Tianjin, China. A total of three hundred patients with thyroid cancer completed the Chinese version of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer (DT), Cancer Fatigue Scale, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to obtain the model of predictors of psychological distress among patients with thyroid cancer during the transitional period. Results The DT score of 300 patients with thyroid cancer ranged from 0 to 10, and the median DT score was 2 [1-4]. The prevalence of clinically relevant psychological distress (DT score >= 4) in Chinese patients with thyroid cancer during their transitional period was 29.33% (88/300). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that gender (OR = 2.505, P = 0.036), fatigue (OR = 1.086, P = 0.005), and illness perception (OR = 1.137, P < 0.001) were significantly related to psychological distress in patients with thyroid cancer. Conclusions The psychological distress of patients with thyroid cancer during the transitional period is medium level. Patients with thyroid cancer who are female, easily fatigued, and have worse illness perceptions are more likely to experience psychological distress. Therefore, clinical attention should be paid to female patients and potential interventions aimed at improving fatigue and illness perception. It may reduce the prevalence of psychological distress during the transitional period.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the psychological distress and its predictors in Chinese patients with thyroid cancer during their transitional period. The results showed that the level of psychological distress was moderate, and female patients, those who easily experienced fatigue, and those with worse illness perceptions were more likely to experience psychological distress. Therefore, clinical attention should be given to female patients and interventions should target improving fatigue and illness perception to reduce the prevalence of psychological distress during the transitional period.