Mediating Effect of Illness Perception on Psychological Distress in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Gastric Cancer

Background A cancer diagnosis is a life-threatening event, but studies on psychological distress in patients with cancer after diagnosis are relatively limited, particularly those in early-stage cancer. Objectives On the basis of Leventhal's common-sense model of self-regulation, this study examined the mediating effects of illness perception on psychological distress and identified the factors influencing illness perception in patients with newly diagnosed gastric cancer. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and a mediation analysis was performed to determine the role of illness perception in the relationship between social support, the presence of physical symptoms, satisfaction with patient education, and psychological distress. Results Participants were 184 patients with recently diagnosed early gastric cancer who are waiting for surgery in a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. The population had a moderate level of psychological distress. Social support, physical symptoms, and satisfaction with patient education significantly influenced illness perception (β = −0.14, P = .048; β = 0.18, P = .015; β = −0.17, P = .019, respectively), and illness perception had a full mediation effect between these 3 variables and psychological distress (β = 0.66, P < .001). Conclusion Healthcare providers need to focus on patients' psychological distress following a diagnosis of cancer because this distress could be easily overlooked in clinical settings, even in patients with early-stage cancer. Implication for Practice Healthcare providers might alleviate patients' psychological distress by improving unrealistic illness perceptions, alleviating physical symptoms, and providing clear and sufficient patient education in patients with cancer after diagnosis.