Assessment of Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms and Psychological Resilience among Recently Diagnosed Cancer Patients

      Background: Cancer is a serious health problem that requires long-term struggle in all societies. Despite the improvement in survival rates due to diagnostic and therapeutic advances, cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. Aim of the study: Assess post-traumatic stress symptoms and psychological resilience among recently diagnosed cancer patients. Design: A descriptive study design was used. Setting: The study conducted in the following hospitals at Ismailia city: Suez Canal University Hospitals (oncology outpatient clinics and inpatient oncology departments) and Ismailia Oncology Hospital include (oncology outpatient clinics and inpatient departments).Subjects: A sample of 52 recently diagnosed cancer patients (18 male and 34 female).Tools of data collection: Three tools were used for data collection: Tool (I) Demographic characteristics and medical background. Tool (II) Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R). Tool (III): Connor-Davidson Resilience scale (CD-RISC). Results: It was found that, recently diagnosed cancer patients had sever post-traumatic stress symptoms, and moderate level of psychological resilience. Additionally, there was negative statistically significant correlation between post-traumatic stress symptoms and psychological resilience. Conclusion: Cancer diagnosis has a great negative effect on the patient's (physical, social, psychological) life. Accordingly, recently diagnosed cancer patients had sever post-traumatic stress symptoms, and moderate level of psychological resilience. Recommendation: A structured training program should be conducted through periodical workshops for nurses dealing with cancer patients focusing on the associated psycho-social problems that may occur and how to deal with them.