Exploring the psychological burden in a pancreatic cancer surveillance programme based on high-risk individuals: a Swedish cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic cancer, an aggressive cancer that presents with few or unspecific symptoms, has a poor prognosis. Thus, diagnosis at an early stage is vital for survival and a chance for curative treatment. Therefore, surveillance programmes for high-risk individuals are of the utmost importance. However, data on the psychological burden among participants in these programmes are limited.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the psychological burden for participants in a pancreatic cancer surveillance programme and explore whether the psychological burden was related to the individual's risk level for pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

This single-centre cross-sectional study investigated cancer worry, anxiety, coping and perceived physical and mental health using a digital questionnaire, including the following instruments: Cancer Worry Scale (CWS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), 13-Item Sense of Coherence and 12-Item Short-Form Survey. The invited participants (n=413) were healthy individuals with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer enrolled in a pancreatic cancer surveillance programme.

RESULTS

The results indicated high cancer worry among respondents (n=78) with high scores on CWS (mean, 16.45). The majority (69.3%) had scores indicating high cancer worry (14). Anxiety was not equally high among respondents (mean STAI-T, 35.13; STAI-S, 35.9). Female sex and younger age were significantly correlated with higher cancer worry and anxiety (p < 0.001). Outcomes in coping and perceived health were similar to those of the normal population.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer worry is particularly high among participants. No correlation was found between the risk level and psychological burden.