Fatigue Severity and Depression in Older Patients With Cancer
Fatigue Severity and Depression in Older Patients With Cancer
Nurses play an important role in the detection and referral of psychosocial problems, such as depression. Therefore, nurses may need additional assistance because the identification of depression in older adult patients with cancer is particularly challenging. In this respect, the authors hope that oncology nurses are aware that some screening tools for depression may not be as suitable for use in patients with cancer, particularly older adult patients with cancer, given the overlap with cancer-related symptoms and the tendency to disclose more somatic symptoms instead of affective symptoms. In addition, in older adult patients with cancer, the identification of depression may be further complicated by common comorbidities, such as cognitive decline. Results of this study showed that presence of fatigue is an important cue to further investigate the presence of depression in older adult patients with cancer. This strategy can be used by oncology nurses. It has the advantage of being quick, straightforward, and standard practice. However, healthcare providers should keep in mind that only one out of five patients with fatigue was depressed and that some patients with depression would be missed if only patients presenting with fatigue were assessed for depression. Therefore, it is necessary that oncology nurses thoroughly assess whether depression could be present and not solely rely on the symptom of fatigue.
The current study supports the recommendation that healthcare providers should consider the possibility of depression in patients reporting fatigue. This applies to older adult patients with cancer, as well as older adults without cancer.
Implications for Nursing and Conclusions
Nurses play an important role in the detection and referral of psychosocial problems, such as depression. Therefore, nurses may need additional assistance because the identification of depression in older adult patients with cancer is particularly challenging. In this respect, the authors hope that oncology nurses are aware that some screening tools for depression may not be as suitable for use in patients with cancer, particularly older adult patients with cancer, given the overlap with cancer-related symptoms and the tendency to disclose more somatic symptoms instead of affective symptoms. In addition, in older adult patients with cancer, the identification of depression may be further complicated by common comorbidities, such as cognitive decline. Results of this study showed that presence of fatigue is an important cue to further investigate the presence of depression in older adult patients with cancer. This strategy can be used by oncology nurses. It has the advantage of being quick, straightforward, and standard practice. However, healthcare providers should keep in mind that only one out of five patients with fatigue was depressed and that some patients with depression would be missed if only patients presenting with fatigue were assessed for depression. Therefore, it is necessary that oncology nurses thoroughly assess whether depression could be present and not solely rely on the symptom of fatigue.
The current study supports the recommendation that healthcare providers should consider the possibility of depression in patients reporting fatigue. This applies to older adult patients with cancer, as well as older adults without cancer.
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