Depressive symptoms among older Jordanian patients with cancer undergoing treatment

To date, the relationship of socio-demographic, treatment, and psychological factors to depression in older patients with cancer has not been systematically studied in Arabic samples, including Jordanian despite the increasing incidence of cancer (Mosleh, Alja’afreh, Alnajar, & Subih, 2018). This study is of significance because it fills the gap in literature in terms of assessing the psychological reactions of older patients with cancer in Middle Eastern countries. Early assessment of the predictors of depressive symptoms among older patients with cancer is essential to craft individualized health-care plans. Thus, our study seeks to assess the levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and hope among older Jordanian patients with cancer who are currently undergoing treatment, and to identify the relationship between selected factors (socio-demographic, treatment, and psychological) and depressive symptoms.