Evaluation of stigmatization and related variables among cancer patients

This study aims to examine the percieved stigmatization of cancer patients with the subdimensions of shame and accusation, social isolation and discrimination, and to evaluate their stigmatization perception with sociodemographic and clinical variables. A total of 242 cancer patients, 147 female and 95 male, diagnosed with lung, breast, colon-rectum, prostate, skin and stomach cancers, who were treated at different stages of the disease as outpatients or inpatients were included in the study. Interviews were conducted in Akdeniz University Medical Faculty Hospital Oncology Outpatient Clinic and inpatient service. A Sociodemographic and Clinical Information Form and the Turkish version of the the Cataldo Lung Cancer Stigmatization Scale (CACRS) were administered to the participants. Cancer site was found to be related to stigmatization and its sub-dimensions. While malinant melanoma differed significantly from lung cancer and colon-rectal cancer in size of embarrassment and blame, lung cancer scored significantly higher than breast cancer and colon-rectal cancer in discrimination. Male gender, older age, being single, having university graduate degree and being employed were found to be associated with higher stigma scores. Regarding the treatment history, patients with a history of surgical operation reported percieved stigmatization in discrimination subscale, while radiotherapy, neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy did not make a significant difference. Side effects of treatments were related to the isolation, discrimination, and total stigma score. Gastrointestinal side effects were the top reported most disturbing side effect. Drug compliance was very high. Having a family member with cancer didn't make a significant difference. The advanced stage of the disease was associated with an increase in total and isolation scores. It has been found that cancer patients experience stigmatization in different sub-dimensions in terms of various sociodemographic and clinical variables. It would be beneficial to explore the psychological distress caused by the stigmatization of cancer patients in future studies and to design longitudinal studies. Psychosocial care should be added to the medical care of cancer patients.