Psychosocial health status of patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses in Jordan

14^th World Cancer & Anti-Cancer Therapy Convention

November 21-23, 2016 Dubai, UAE

Dana Dawod Al Abeiat

Shaikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital, UAE

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Cancer Sci Ther

Abstract :

Background & Aim: The comorbidity between chronic physical conditions and psychosocial health consequences is becoming a research interest for researchers in the field. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychosocial health status of patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses in Jordan. Methods: A cross sectional survey using 806 patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses has been used to collect data in regards to depressive symptoms, psychological distress, coping, optimism, life satisfaction, and perceive social support. Results: 17.5% of the patients reported that they had moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and about 50% of them had high level of optimism and life satisfaction, moderate level of effectiveness of coping skills, psychological distress and perceived social support from family, friends and others. There were significant associations between patients� age and their scores on perception of social support from family, friends and others, life satisfaction, and psychological distress (p>0.05). While, male and female patients were different in their depressive symptoms (t=-2.57, p=0.01), perceived social support from others (t=-2.06, p=0.04), and optimism (t=2.29, p=0.02). Also, patients had differences in their depressive symptoms, perceived social support from friends, others and friends, optimism, life satisfaction and psychological distress related to their medical diagnoses (p<0.05). Conclusion: Patients with chronic illness are in need for psychological care and periodic psychological screening is one step toward maintaining their psychological wellbeing.

Biography :

Dana Dawod Al Abeiat has completed her MSN in Psychiatry Mental Health Nursing from the University of Jordan. She has established the role of psychiatric nurse specialist in general hospital (psychiatric consultant liaison nurse). She has also worked with Jordan nursing council to train nurses to handle psychiatric unit effectively as a part of WHO project to promote mental health in Jordan. She has many published articles regarding mental health in correlation with physical illness. Presently, she is working in Shaikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital.

Email: ddawod_89@yahoo.com