Body image and depression among gynecologic cancer patients at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital

Abstract

Background: There are increasing prevalence of gynecologic cancers nowadays which affect female patients’ body image satisfaction and emotional response. However, studies directed to these issues are still inadequate.

Objectives: To study level of body image satisfaction and prevalence of depression as well as associated factors among gynecologic cancer patients at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Methods: We recruited 196 out-patients age above 18 years with at least one diagnosis of gynecologic cancer by a gynecologist. The instruments included demographic, personal and gynecological information questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (Thai HADS), Body Image Scale (BIS), Jalowiec Coping Scale, and Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ Part-II). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the prevalence of depression and level of body image satisfaction. Univariate statistics were used to examine the associated factors of body image satisfaction and depression.

Results: Most of the patients (n = 163) had high level of body image satisfaction (83.2%), whereas 32 (16.3%) had moderate satisfaction level and 1 (0.5%) had low satisfaction level of body image, respectively. The prevalence of depression according to Thai-HADS 8 was 7.7%. Factors associated with body image satisfaction included age, level of education, family income, history of substance abuse, history of depression, having more than 1 type of gynecologic cancers, having received chemotherapy, having disturbed physical symptoms, using problem-focused coping, emotional coping, and palliative coping. Factors associated
with depression included marital status and using emotional coping.

Conclusion: Most of the gynecologic patients had high level of body image satisfaction. There are 7.7% depression which is not different from the rate found among general female population.