Prevalence and psychosocial factors affecting preoperative anxiety, depression, and stress in cancer patients: A prospective cross-sectional study.

Mishra, Seema; Sarma, Riniki; Bhan, Swati; Vig, Saurabh; Kumar, Sunil; Satapathy, Sujata; Sood, Mamta; Deo, S. V. S.; Bhatnagar, Sushma

Background: Psychological factors have a key role in affecting the clinical outcome of a disease. Studies have found an alteration in the immune system and endocrine function in patients with psychological stress. Cancer patients often display these symptoms. This study aims to find out the prevalence and factors affecting the presence of preoperative depression, anxiety, and stress in cancer patients by using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-42 (DASS 42). Methods: Three hundred and sixty patients were included in the study who were posted for cancer surgery. They were required to answer a questionnaire where details were collected about the sociodemographic and economic background, type of cancer and treatment received, details about the presence of pain, and if the patient is on any analgesics. Data were analyzed using Stata version 16, and multivariate analysis was done using logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was found to be 16.11%, 32.5%, and 12.78%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that marital status and type of surgery proposed predicted depression; anxiety was significantly contributed by the type of surgery proposed and analgesic the patient is taking; whereas marital status, type of surgery proposed, and analgesic the patient is taking predicted stress. Conclusion: Married patients are more likely to suffer from depression and stress. Patients undergoing palliative surgery will be prone to all kinds of negative emotions including depression, anxiety, and stress. The type of analgesics, which the patent is taking as prescribed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) ladder for cancer pain also significantly influences anxiety and stress.

PSYCHOLOGICAL factors; LOGISTIC regression analysis; TREATMENT effectiveness; MENTAL depression; PSYCHOSOCIAL factors

Indian Journal of Cancer, 2024, Vol 61, Issue 3, p558

0019-509X

Academic Journal

10.4103/ijc.IJC_725_20