Anxiety, depression and stress among caregivers of patients with cancer in a tertiary care hospital, thrissur district, kerala, india

Introduction: Cancer is a disease with high mortality and also is a systematic wasting disease.. In most cases cancer treatment requires long term medical care and support. Due to the harrowing nature of illness, being a caregiver for a patient with cancer requires multifaceted activities that are physiologically, emotionally, socially and financially demanding. Thus cancer is not only a major life event to patients themselves but also has a great effect on their caregivers, often resulting in declining of wellbeing and quality of life in caregivers. So it is important to assess the mental health status and attend to the needs of caregivers. Aims and Objectives: To study anxiety, depression and stress among caregivers of hospitalized cancer patients and to assess socio demographic factors associated with anxiety, depression and stress among them. Methodology: cross sectional study was carried out .Sample size was calculated to be 60, using the formula n=za2pq /d2 taking p as 61.5%. The anxiety, depression and stress levels of these individuals was assessed using the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS 21). Results: Majority of the study subjects were in the age group 20-75. Most of them were females [70%] than males [30%]. Mean duration since diagnosis is 2 years. Mean duration since treatment is 24 months. Patients having insurance is 83.3% and 16.7 % of them spent from their pocket. Thirty percentage of caregivers were unable to work after diagnosis of cancer in the patient. 11.7% found to have mild stress level.13.3% have mild anxiety, 1.7% has moderate anxiety and 1.7% has severe anxiety.6.7% have mild depression and 3.3% has moderate depression. Stress was found to be significantly related to prognosis and relationship to the patient. Anxiety was found to be significantly related to gender and caregivers ability to work after diagnosis and depression was found to be significantly related to prognosis. Conclusion: The study findings suggest the prevalence of depression , anxiety and stress( 11.7% , 16.7% , 10% ) are common among caregivers.