Design and application of a standardized communication system for psychological distress of adolescents and young adults with cancer / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To set up and apply a standardized communication system of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) cancer patients,in order to improve AYAs cancer patients' psychological distress and other negative emotions,as well as promote social support and quality of life of patients.Methods A AYAs cancer patients standardized communication system,suitable for China's national conditions,was preliminarily built.Using randomized controlled trials,a total of 171 subjects,selected from 486 cases of AYAs cancer patients,in the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital from August to September in 2016,were intervened with a set of standardized communication system.The Mental Distress Thermometer (DT),Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS),Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and Concise Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36) were used as evaluation indexes to observe the psychological distress,emotion,social support and quality of life of the three groups of subjects before intervention,immediately after intervention,1 month after intervention and 3 months after intervention.Results At the follow-up of 3 months after intervention,38 cases were lost,14 cases in communication group (final n =43),11 cases in music therapy group (final n =46),and 13 cases in routine group (final n =44)..There was no significant difference in the evaluation indexes between the communication group,music treatment group and the routine group before intervention (P ＞ 0.05).There were statistically significant differences in scores of psychological pain,anxiety and depression,and social support in the 3 groups,before and immediately after intervention,1 month and 3 months after intervention (P ＜ 0.05).The scores of psychological pain,anxiety and depression,social support and quality of life in the communication group 1 month after intervention were statistically significant compared with those in the music group and the routine group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Compared to music therapy and regular care,the standardized communication system has significant effect on improving the psychological distress of AYAs with cancer,and can also improve their social support level and quality of life.The clinical validation of the standardized communication system can provide reference for psychological rehabilitation of cancer survivors.