Relationship between Physicians' Perceived Stigma toward Depression and Physician Referral to Psycho-oncology services on an Oncology/Hematology Ward.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to identify relationships between physician's perceived stigma toward depression and psycho-oncology service utilization on an oncology/hematology ward.

METHODS

The study participants were 235 patients in an oncology/hematology ward and 14 physicians undergoing an internal medicine residency training program in Inha University Hospital (Incheon, South Korea). Patients completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and residents completed the Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination (PDD) scale that evaluates perceived stigma toward depression. A total PHQ-9 score of ≥5 was defined as clinically significant depression. Physicians decided on referral based on their and patient's opinions. The correlates of physicians' recommendation for referral to psycho-oncology services and real referrals psycho-oncology services were examined.

RESULTS

Of the 235 patients, 143 had PHQ-9 determined depression, and of these 143 patients, 61 received psycho-oncology services. Physician's recommended that 87 patients consult psycho-oncology services. Multivariate analyses showed lower physician's perceived stigma regarding depression was significantly associated with physicians' recommendation for referral, and that real referral to psycho-oncology services was significantly associated with presence of a hematologic malignancy and lower physician's perceived stigma toward depression.

CONCLUSION

Physician's perceived stigma toward depression was found to be associated with real referral to psycho-oncology services and with physician recommendation for referral to psycho-oncology services. Further investigations will be needed to examine how to reduce physicians' perceived stigma toward depression.

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