Persons with Advanced Cancer: A Study on Relationships between Psychological Distress and Mental Health Literacy Mental Health Literacy and Psychological Distress among Persons with Advanced Cancer
Abstract
This correlational descriptive study aimed to investigate the relationships between mental health literacy and psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer. The sample was 106 patients with advanced cancer in Northeast Thailand, consulting in a Health Promoting Hospital. Multi-stage sampling was applied. Two research instruments were used for data collection: 1) The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10). Experts confirmed the validity of the questionnaire; the IOC was equal to .95. Its reliability was determined by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, obtaining a value of.89, and 2) The Mental Health Literacy Assessment. The validity of the questionnaire was validated by experts; the IOC yielded .80 - 1.0. Its reliability was determined by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, yielding values of .81 and .88 respectively. Data were analyzed in terms of frequency, percentage, mean, including standard deviation and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. Results showed as follows.
1. The overall mental health literacy was at a high level (M = 8.94, SD = 1.98), as well as psychological distress with advanced cancer (M = 22.38, SD = 7.67).
2. Patients were likely to have a moderate disorder (37.70%), a mild disorder (32.10%), to be well (23.60%) or to suffer from severe disorder, having to be followed by a mental health expert (6.6%).
3. Mental health literacy had a moderate-level negative correlation with psychological distress among persons with advanced cancer at the significance of .01 (r = -.626).
The results of this research might be used as basic information for healthcare professionals to develop mental health literacy and care management for psychological distress in persons with advanced cancer.
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