Illness perception and symptom burden among cancer patients: cross-sectional study

Objectives This study aimed to assess illness perception and symptom burden in cancer patients, focusing on how demographic and clinical factors influence these perceptions. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 102 cancer patients aged 18 years or older. Participants were assessed using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) to measure illness perception, alongside sociodemographic data. Statistical analyses were performed to identify associations with gender, age, cancer stage and cancer type. Results The sample consisted of 68 women (67%) and 34 men (33%), with a mean age of 46 years. Half of the patients were between 40 and 60 years of age. Metastatic cancer was the most common stage (61%), and 100% received chemotherapy. A significant proportion of women (35%) reported high or very high perceptions of their illness compared with 2% of men (p=0.03). Patients aged 40–60 years and those with metastatic cancer also reported higher illness perceptions (p=0.04 and p=0.05). Breast cancer patients had the highest perception scores across all domains (p=0.01). Conclusion Illness perception varies by gender, age, cancer stage and type. These findings emphasise the need for personalised psychosocial interventions and educational strategies. Tailored approaches are essential to improve coping and treatment adherence.