Characteristics and influencing factors of demoralization in ovarian cancer: a latent profile analysis.

PURPOSE: To identify the potential subgroups of demoralization in ovarian cancer patients and explore the influencing factors associated with different potential subgroups. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional study recruited 309 ovarian cancer patients using convenience sampling from five tertiary hospitals in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, China, between June 2024 and February 2025. Participants were assessed using a sociodemographic and disease-related questionnaire, the Demoralization Scale Mandarin Version (DS-MV), the Chinese version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS-Ch), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), and the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to explore potential subgroups of demoralization among ovarian cancer patients. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze influencing factors associated with different potential subgroups. RESULTS: The average demoralization score among ovarian cancer patients was 35.61 ± 8.51. Demoralization of ovarian cancer patients was divided into three classes: the critical demoralization-stable group (57%), the moderate demoralization-helplessness group (30.7%), and the high demoralization-distress group (12.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of chemotherapy sessions, symptom burden, coping styles, and social support were the influencing factors for the potential profile of demoralization in ovarian cancer patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The demoralization in ovarian cancer patients exhibits heterogeneity. Healthcare professionals should prioritize identifying high-risk subgroups and develop targeted clinical symptom management strategies to prevent or alleviate demoralization.