Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31693712›Full record

ArticlePsychology research and behavior management2019

Assessment of psychological distress among cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy in Saudi Arabia.

Turky H Almigbal, Khalid M Almutairi, Jack B Fu, Jason M Vinluan, Eyad Alhelih, Wadi B Alonazi, Mohammed Ali Batais, Abdulaziz A Alodhayani, Murad A Mubaraki

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Psychology research and behavior management, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
24citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 44 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
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  5. Article
  6. The Impact of Providing Evidence-Based Arabic Educational Resources to Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy in Saudi Arabia.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2025
    Article
  7. Predictors of emotional distress in patients with lymphoma, gastrointestinal, and breast cancer at the Kuwait Cancer Control Centre.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Review
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  12. "You matter": patients perceptions and disparities about  cancer care and telehealth during and after COVID-19 pandemic.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Turky H AlmigbalCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Khalid M AlmutairiDepartment of Community Health Science, College of Applied Medical Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Jack B FuDepartment of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, University of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Jason M VinluanDepartment of Community Health Science, College of Applied Medical Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Eyad AlhelihCollege of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Wadi B AlonaziCollege of Business Administration, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed Ali BataisCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulaziz A AlodhayaniCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Murad A MubarakiClinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
King Saud University · SAThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCancer patients under psychological distress have reduced compliance with treatment and prolonged hospitalizations. Identifying cancer patients who may be more likely to suffer from psychological distress over the disease trajectory is essential to targeting the proper interventions and providing the best care. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we aim to assess the levels of emotional and physical distress, depressive symptoms, and social concerns of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment in Saudi Arabia.

methodsA total of 148 cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy from five different public tertiary-level hospitals in Saudi Arabia participated in this study. The survey was conducted by a trained researcher from November 2015 through April 2016. The Psycho-Oncology Screening Tool was used to identify levels of distress of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Emotional and physical distress, depressive symptoms, and social concerns in receiving psychosocial services were assessed.

resultsThe findings show above average levels of physical and emotional distress was (342.07±78.9) and social concerns was (7.27±1.68). Age was a significant predictor of psychological distress and in social concerns (

conclusionCancer patients undergoing radiotherapy displayed above-average levels of distress. This may have significant implications on their adherence for treatment and patient outcomes. Routine screening and support services or psychosocial care for patients are warranted among cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Indexed as

cancer patientspsychological distressradiotherapySaudi Arabia

Identifiers

PMID31693712
PMCPMC6708396
OpenAlexW2969406392

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.