Perceived autonomy supportiveness of the health care climate and anxiety in sarcoma patients

Abstract

Sarcomas are a rare type of solid cancer associated with several negative psychological outcomes, namely emotional distress. According to the Self-Determination Theory, health care climate is vital to promote autonomy that leads to better health and wellbeing. This study aimed to characterize the perceived autonomy supportiveness of the health care climate and the level of anxiety in patients with sarcoma, in two phases of treatment: 4 (Ph1) and 9 (Ph2) months after the beginning of treatment, as well as socio-demographic and clinical determinants. Participants were 24 adult patients of both sexes diagnosed with sarcoma and a mean age of 40.5 years (SD=16.8). Participants completed a Socio-demographic and Clinical Questionnaire, and the Portuguese versions of the Health Care Climate Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results show a positive perception of the support provided by nurses in the two phases and a decrease in levels of anxiety from the Ph1 to Ph2. The results evidence that a more autonomous perceived treatment climate is associated with lower levels of anxiety in the second phase of treatment (R=-0.61; p<0.01). Overall, younger patients, with more education and without a partner, reported a more autonomous perceived treatment climate and lower levels of anxiety. The study emphasizes the importance of the autonomous perceived support provided by health professionals in the disease management process, and the need to identify the most vulnerable patients in terms of emotional distress, in order to plan psychosocial interventions aimed to promote patients’ wellbeing.