Investigation Of The Influencing Factors Of Alexithymia In Cancer Patients And Interventional Study

ObjectivesThrough questionnaires,we investigate the status of alexithymia and the influencing factors in cancer patients.We explore the effect of self-exposure intervention on the alexithymia of cancer patients.MethodsThis research is divided into two parts.The first part is the observational study(Jun.,2017--Jul.,2017).Through convenient sampling method,276 cancer patients in two third-grade class-A hospitals of Zhengzhou were selected.We use general situation questionnaire,Toronto Alexithymia Scale,Emotion Regulation Questionnaire,Perceived Social Spport Scale,and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy to complete investigation.The influence factors of alexithymia in cancer patients were discussed by single factor analysis,pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.The second part is a quasi-experimental study(Aug.,2017--Dec.,2017).Through objective sampling method,44 participants were selected in the observational study of patients(TAS-20>51).Through picking method,the A hospital was determined as the control group,and B hospital was the intervention group,with 22 cases in each hospital.There was no significant difference between two groups at baseline level.Control group received routine care,intervention group received self-exposure intervention on the basic of control group.Both groups were measured by Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy in pre-intervention and post-intervention.The statistic methods included t test,Chi-square test,Fisher's exact test,non parametric test.Results1.The incidence of high alexithymia in cancer patients(TAS-20>60)was 14.9%,and the total average score was 52.65±6.82,and the score of Difficulty Describing Feelings dimension was the highest.2.The results of pearson correlation analysis showed that emotion regulation,perceived social spport and quality of life index have close correlation with alexithymia.Multiple regression analysis showed that congnitive reappraisal,expression suppression,medical payment method,the time of awareness about disease,the support of friends,perceived social spport,and the support of family were the important factors affecting the alexithymia of cancer patients.3.There was statistically difference in intervention group patients' stages of alexithymia between pre-intervention and post-intervention(P<0.001).In post-intervention,the scores of alexithymia and three dimensiones had a significant decrease in the intervention group patients,but control group did not change.The scores of alexithymia,Difficulty Identifying Feelings,Difficulty Describing Feelings,Externally Oriented Thinking in the intervention group were significant higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).4.There was statistically difference in intervention group patients' stages of quality of life index between pre-intervention and post-intervention(P<0.001).In the control group,there were no significant differences but FACT-G,social and family well being,functional well-being dimension.The difference of the scores of subtracting two numbers showed that the intervention group of FACT-G,physical well-being,social and family well being and emotional well-being were significant higher than those in the control group(P<0.05),but the differences of the scores of functional well-being was not significant(P>0.05).ConclusionDomestic cancer patients had a certain degree of alexithymia,and it could be improved.Congnitive reappraisal,expression suppression,medical payment method,the time of awareness about disease,the support of friends,perceived social spport,and the support of family were the important factors affecting the alexithymia of cancer patients.Self-disclosure intervention has positive significance for alexithymia and quality of life of cancer patients.Therefore self-disclosure intervention is suitable for the alexithymia of cancer patients,and the effect is good.