Investigation of depression level and prolonged griefsymptoms in individuals diagnosed with cancer

This research was conducted with a descriptive and correlational design to examine the level of depression and symptoms of prolonged grief in individuals diagnosed with cancer. The population of the study consisted of patients receiving outpatient or inpatient treatment with a diagnosis of cancer at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Training and Research Hospital. The sample size was calculated according to a certain sampling method and the study was completed with 210 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected with the Personal Information Form, which includes the demographic characteristics of individuals diagnosed with cancer, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale-Patient Form (PG-12-Patient Form). The relationships between the numerical data obtained from the research were evaluated with the Spearman Correlation Analysis and the Mann Whitney U and Kruskall Wallis tests in comparisons between the groups. Participants received an average score of 18.26±12.12 on the BDI and an average score of 30.47±10.66 on the PG-12-Patient Form Scale. The mean BDI score was found to be statistically significantly higher in people whose education level was literate, whose income was less than their expenses, who received chemotherapy and radiotherapy, who had a psychiatric disease and who used psychiatric medication. The PG-12-Patient Form mean score is statistically significantly higher in people whose income is less than their expenses, who have a psychiatric illness, and who use psychiatric medication. A weak positive, statistically significant relationship was determined between the age of the participants and the BDI score, and a positive, moderate, statistically significant relationship was determined between the BDI and PG-12-Patient Form. It is recommended that cancer patients be monitored for symptoms of depression and prolonged grief and that this screening be included in the standard treatment protocol. Keywords: Cancer, depression, prolonged grief disorder, psychiatric nursing