Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether there are differences in depression, anxiety, pain and styles of coping with pain between cancer patients with and without awareness of their cancer diagnosis.
Methods: In this study, 30 cancer patients aware of their diagnosis and 30 cancer patients unaware of their diagnosis, all of whom visited a clinic for pain treatment, were enrolled in this study. A sociodemographic information form, a questionnaire comprising questions about pain severity and related variables, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, and the Pain Coping Questionnaire were administered to the patients.
Results: No significant association was observed between the patients with awareness or unawareness of cancer with respect to anxiety, depression, pain severity, or coping with pain. Pain intensity was significantly associated with depression in both the patient groups.
Conclusion: The study enrolled patients who were admitted for pain treatment, and the sampling group was small. However, this is the first study to investigate the effects of the awareness of cancer diagnosis on pain and its management.