Psychosocial needs of women with cancer of the reproductive system: A comparison between Buddhist and Muslim patients in Thailand

Abstract

The aims of this study were (1) to compare the differences in psychosocial needs and needs-met between Buddhist and Muslim patients with cancer of the female reproductive system; and (2) to identify factors associated with those needs, and the perception of responses to their needs. The subjects were 45 Thai Buddhist and 45 Thai Muslim patients, with cancer of the reproductive system, who were admitted to a gynecological ward of a university hospital in southern Thailand. A structured interview questionnaire concerning demographic and disease characteristics, and eight categories of psychosocial needs and needs-met (hope, more information, moral support, acceptance, relief of anxiety, economic support, discussion about death, and privacy) was given to the patients an average of six days after admission. Both Buddhist and Muslim patients had overall high psychosocial needs that were not fully met. Muslims had significantly higher needs for acceptance, relief of anxiety, economic support, discussion of issues related to death, and privacy than had Buddhists. The needs scores were higher than the needs-met scores for all categories in both Buddhist and Muslim patients. Being Muslim was the only factor related with the change in the overall needs score. The type and stage of cancers were significantly associated with change in the needs-met scores. Ovarian cancer patients had higher needs-met scores than cervical cancer patients, and patients in the higher stages of illness had lower needs-met scores than those in stage 1. The study revealed a high level of psychosocial needs in female cancer patients. In future planning for the provision of nursing care for these patients, the particular needs of different ethnic groups and patients in different types and stages of cancers should be considered.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Associate Professor Sawitri Assanangkornchai, MD PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Professor Werasak Chungsuwiwatwong, MD PhD, Epidemiology Unit, and Mr. David L. Patterson, English Consultant, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, for their supervision and support in planning this study and in preparing the manuscript.