Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence depression in stomach cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at outpatient clinic.
METHODS
A cross-sectional design was used. Ninety two subjects diagnosed with stomach cancer and receiving chemotherapy agreed to participated in the study. Subjects completed a survey which included questions about depression, symptom experience, social support and self-efficacy.
RESULTS
The level of depression was 13.45+/-6.92. Reported depression differed according to patient's perceived health status. Depression was significantly correlated with symptom experience, social support and self-efficacy. The most important factor related to depression was symptom experience, followed by social support and self-efficacy. These three factors could explain about 47% of depression in stomach cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
CONCLUSION
Although the level of depression in stomach cancer patients receiving chemotherapy was relatively low, 34.8% of patients reported to have depression. It is important to apply nursing intervention including screening of depression level in stomach cancer patients receiving chemotherapy that focused on symptom experience and to consider about social support and self-efficacy at outpatient clinic.