Search

Purpose: We aim to assess attitudes toward a COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination status in cancer patients and to explore additional factors such as the level of information and comprehensibility and accessibility of this information, anxiety symptoms in general and toward COVID-19, and general health literacy. Methods: We included 425 outpatients (mean age 61.4, age range 30–88 years, 60.5% women) of the Psychosocial Counseling Center for Cancer patients of the Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Leipzig. We recorded attitudes toward a COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination status via self-report. The impact of psychosocial factors, including anxiety (GAD-7), COVID-19-specific anxiety (OCS; FCV-19S) and health literacy (HLS-EU-Q16) were analyzed with point-biserial correlations using Pearson's r. Results: We found that the vast majority (95.5%) reported being vaccinated against COVID-19 and that overall trust in safety and protective effects of a COVID-19 vaccine was high (90.9%). The vaccination readiness among nonvaccinated cancer survivors was low to very low with "fear of side effects" the most mentioned (72.2%) reason against a COVID-19 vaccine. There was no significant correlation between vaccination status and fear or anxiety symptomatology, and health literacy. Obsessive thoughts about COVID-19 was significantly higher in nonvaccinated cancer patients. Conclusions: Majority of respondents are positive about COVID-19 vaccine, accompanied by a very high rate of COVID-19 immunization in our sample. Further studies with a larger sample of nonvaccinated cancer patients should further investigate the relationship on fear and vaccination hesitancy and align communication strategies accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple studies have shown that people who have experienced a serious health problem such as an injury tend to overrate the quality of health they had before that event. The main objective of this study was to test whether the phenomenon of respondents overrating their past health can also be observed in people from the general population. A second aim was to test whether habitual optimism is indeed focused on events in the future. Method: A representatively selected community sample from Leipzig, Germany (n = 2282, age range: 40–75 years) was examined. Respondents were asked to assess their current health, their past health (5 years before), and their expected future health (in 5 years) on a 0–100 scale. In addition, the study participants completed several questionnaires on specific aspects of physical and mental health. Results: Respondents of all age groups assessed their health as having been better in the past than it was at present. Moreover, they also assessed their earlier state of health more positively than people 5 years younger did their current state. Habitual optimism was associated with respondents having more positive expectations of how healthy they will be in 5 years time (r = 0.37), but the correlation with their assessments of their current health was nearly as high (r = 0.36). Conclusion: Highly positive scores of retrospectively assessed health among people who have experienced a health problem cannot totally be accounted for by a response to that health problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The diagnosis of a terminal disease bears existential challenges, which activate the attachment system. Attachment insecurity, as well as existential resources, such as spiritual well-being, influences patients' extent of psychological distress. Knowledge about the interrelation of these constructs is limited. Based on current research, we assume spiritual well-being to mediate the association of attachment insecurity and psychological distress.Methods: We obtained data from the baseline measurement of a randomized controlled trial in advanced cancer patients. Patients were sampled from the University Medical Centers of Hamburg and Leipzig, Germany. Main outcome measures included the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Death and Dying Distress Scale (DADDS), the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp), and the Experience in Close Relationships Scale (ECR-M16) for assessing attachment insecurity. We tested the mediation hypothesis with two regression analyses using bootstrapping procedure.Results: A total of 190 patients were included. Spiritual well-being mediated the association of attachment insecurity and depression (R2 = 11%), as well as death anxiety (R2 = 15%), in fearful-avoidant attached patients. Neither dismissingly nor preoccupied attached patients differ in terms of spiritual well-being and psychological distress in comparison with secure attached patients.Conclusion: Spiritual well-being plays a relevant role in advanced cancer patient's mental health through mediating the association of attachment and psychological distress. Developing a better understanding of the interdependency of the constructs of spiritual well-being and attachment can help to develop individually tailored advanced cancer care programs and psychotherapeutic interventions.Trial Registration: NCT02051660. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To translate the cancer-specific Body Image Scale (BIS) into German and assess its psychometric properties. The BIS was translated in accordance with current guidelines. In a prospective, cross-sectional two center study (psychosocial counselling center for cancer patients Leipzig, oncological inpatient ward Berlin), we assessed composite reliability and factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis. Additional item response theory (IRT) modelling was performed. Convergent validity was assessed via correlation with the Body Appreciation Scale (BAS) as well as psychological symptom burden (PHQ-9, GAD-2 and Distress Thermometer). Discriminant validity was assessed via demographic and clinical group comparisons. 677 patients participated (response rate 78%). Composite reliability was 0.95 and the one-factor structure was confirmed (standardized root mean square residual = 0.051, average variance extracted ≥50%, no indications of local dependence). In IRT models, all items had a discriminating power above the established threshold of b = 0.5 and relatively high "difficulty" parameters (b = 0.89–2.06). The BIS was negatively correlated with the BAS (rho = −0.62, p < 0.001) and positively with psychological symptom burden (e.g. PHQ-9: rho = 0.49, p < 0.001). Patients who were younger, female, had undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery and those who were distressed by fatigue, their appearance or sexual problems had significantly higher BIS scores. The German version of the BIS is a valid tool to assess BID in patients with cancer that is now available for clinical or research contexts. • A valid and reliable German version of the Body Image Scale (BIS) is now available. • It helps assess body image disturbance, a common problem in cancer patients. • The one-factor structure was confirmed and items had good discriminating power. • BIS scores were associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety and distress. • The BIS showed discriminant validity regarding age, gender and treatment type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]