Artikel: Illness representations and psychological distress in Indian patients with cancer: does being aware of one's cancer diagnosis make a difference?

Adult Indian patients with cancer (N = 329) were asked about their understanding of their illness (to assess awareness of a cancer diagnosis), and then completed the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale.

Patients who reported being unaware of their cancer diagnosis (54.1%) experienced higher levels of anxiety and depression. After controlling for awareness, education, income, cancer symptoms, and cancer stage, illness perceptions accounted for significant amounts of variance in anxiety (∆R² = 0.42) and depression (∆R² = 0.33). Illness coherence mediated the relationship between awareness of a cancer diagnosis and anxiety. Moderated regression analyses indicated that several relationships between illness perceptions and anxiety/depression were stronger among patients who reported being unaware of their cancer diagnosis.

The Common Sense Model provides a useful framework for explaining the psychological reactions of Indian patients with cancer to their illness, particularly for those who report being unaware of their cancer diagnosis.