Klin Onkol 2021; 34(Suppl 2): 111-113.
Background: The quality of life of cancer patients is currently receiving a great deal of research attention, but there are not many studies focusing on the population of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the level of perceived stress in MM patients during the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus epidemic and to reveal the protective effect of selected psychosocial factors on it. Methods: The research was conducted in collaboration with the Multiple Myeloma Patients’ Club (KPMM) in autumn of 2020. Patients were invited to complete an online anonymous questionnaire. Verified scales measuring the level of stress, hope, gratitude and self-compassion were used to collect data. Three open-ended questions were also included to reveal what is the biggest source of stress for patients with MM, what they are grateful for, and what their hopes are for. The research group consisted of 74 patients with MM (mean age 65 years, 55.4% female). Results: The results of the mathematical-statistical analysis revealed that patients with a higher level of hope and self-compassion showed a significantly lower level of perceived stress. Patients who showed a higher level of hope also showed higher gratefulness. The content analysis of the answers to open questions provided a deeper insight into the researched area. The three main thematic areas were health, personal life and interpersonal relationships. The more detailed subcategories included sub-factors related to stress, hope and gratitude that significantly affected the quality of life of patients with MM. Conclusion: The results of the quantitative part of the study are in line with previous foreign research pointing to important connections between hope, stress and self-compassion in cancer patients. They can be a useful stimulus for further research and for the creation of interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of patients with MM.
