Browsing by Author "Velosa, Teresa"
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- Depression and spiritual distress in adult palliative patients in primary carePublication . Velosa, Teresa; Capelas, Manuel Luís; Caldeira, SílviaBackground: Palliative care patients have high probability ofhaving depression and spiritual distress but few studies aboutthe prevalence of spiritual distress in palliative patients,particularly in primary care, have been conducted. Also, thedifferential diagnostic between depression and spiritualdistress often lack clarity. Aims: To identify the prevalence and the clinical indicators ofdepression and spiritual distress in palliative patients inprimary care.Methods: Observational and cross-sectional study conductedin 2016 in a Portuguese primary care unit.Patients with chronic disease and Prognostic IndicatorGuidance (PIG) criteria were recruited from the GeneralPractitioners patients’ file. Patients were interviewed forcollection of demographics, clinical data, presence orabsence of spiritual distress and depression.Depression diagnosis comprised DSM-5 criteria and wassupported by HADS scale. Spiritual distress diagnosiscomprised a three component criteria: the researcher’sclassification, the patient’s confirmation, and a FACIT-Spscore below 36. Data treatment comprised Independent t-test, Shapiro-Wilktest, Pearson’s χ2, using SPSS 22. The study was approved bythe ethical Commission of the Universidade CatólicaPortuguesa.Results: A total of 1.457 adults were identified, of which 200met chronic disease criteria, and 39 met PIG criteria. A totalof 30 patients completed the study. Palliative patients had amean age of 72.7 (SD ± 13.4).The majority of palliative patients were married orliving together (67%). Most of the palliative patients had alow-medium socio-economic status (87%). The prevalence ofdepression was 23% (N=7) in this sample. The prevalence ofspiritual distress was 23% (N=7) in this sample. Discussion and conclusion: Palliative care patients’depression and spiritual distress need to be accuratelyidentified towards the most correct decision-making, and themost effective treatment and holistic caring, including family.
- Depression and spiritual distress in adult palliative patients: a cross-sectional studyPublication . Velosa, Teresa; Caldeira, Sílvia; Capelas, Manuel LuísPalliative care patients have been associated with a high probability of having depression and spiritual distress. However, there is a gap in research about the clinical indicators that can promote an effective differential diagnosis of depression and spiritual distress. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and the clinical indicators of depression and spiritual distress in palliative patients in primary care. An observational and cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 in a Portuguese primary care unit. From a General Practitioners patients’ file of 1457 adult patients, a sample of 30 palliative patients was recruited throughout two steps: (1) selection of patients with chronic disease criteria; (2) selection of patients with Prognostic Indicator Guidance criteria. Exclusion criteria included cognitive impairment and psychotic disorders. Participants completed the self-assessment Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp12) scales, which were sealed in opaque envelopes. Clinical data collection used semi-structured interviews for the diagnosis of depression and spiritual distress. The prevalence of depression was 23% (n = 7), while the prevalence of spiritual distress was 23% (n = 7). Four patients (13%) fulfilled both the depression and the spiritual distress criteria. Depression and spiritual distress seem to be both linked to the spiritual dimensions of the human being, but seem to differ in the dimensions of suffering and pharmacologic treatment.