1847P - Monitoring of psychological state and quality of life during Simonton-training for oncologic patients

Background

With the increasing number of oncologic patients, consultation time per patient shortens, which negatively affects the doctor – patient relationship. Participation in psychotherapeutic groups can help patients gain trust in their treatment. The aim of this study is to quantify the effects of Simonton-training on the psychological state, quality of life and compliance in oncologic patients.

Methods

This survey was carried out at the University of Debrecen in the course of a 12-occasion-long Simonton training. A total of 27 patients in the psychotherapeutic group, and 63 patients in the control group were included in this study. Patients filled out an online questionnaire three times, before the training (t0), right after the training (t1), and again 3 months later (t2). The online questionnaire contained: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), WHO Quality of Life 5-item questionnaire (WHO QOL5), Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and five questions (5Q) about the general attitude towards their treatment and the trust in their oncologist. The distribution of continuous variables was statistically analysed with the Shapiro-Wilk test, and Wilcoxon test was used for comparisons between the case and control groups due to the non-normal distribution of the majority of variables.

Results

From t0 to t1, the Simonton group’s quality of life significantly increased (p=0,016), meanwhile the control group’s QoL didn’t change significantly (p=0,575). According to HADS scale, the Simonton group’s anxiety significantly decreased from t0 to t1 (p=0,0005), and the change of the control wasn’t significant (p=0,247). Depression values also showed a significant decrease for the Simonton group from t0 to t1 (p=0,003), whereas the control’s depression values didn’t change significantly (p=0,122). After psychotherapy, the Simonton group evaluated their therapy-related attitude better with the 5Q, than at t0 (p=0,026). During this time, the control’s value didn’t change significantly (p=0,532).

Conclusions

On the basis of this study the Simonton training had a positive impact on the patients' psychological state and their quality of life increased.

Clinical trial identification

DE RKEB/IKEB 5773-2021.

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.