Anxiety and related factors in Indian chemotherapy patients: A cross-sectional study

This study was conducted to assess anxiety and related factors in Indian chemotherapy patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the chemotherapy ward of a tertiary care cancer center in northern Kerala, between October 2023 and November 2023, to assess the level of anxiety and the factors influencing anxiety among patients receiving chemotherapy. One hundred participants who met the eligibility criteria were selected for the study using the convenience sampling technique. The socio-demographic questionnaire, participants' case records, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment Scale (GAD-7), and a questionnaire to assess factors influencing anxiety were used to collect data. The majority of the sample, 66% had minimum anxiety, 27% had mild anxiety, 5% had moderate anxiety, and 2% had severe anxiety. The study participants identified the following as factors influencing anxiety: 100% uncertainty regarding the future; 56% physiological problems related to treatment; 37% emotional problems; 52% inadequate social support; 38% problems related to occupation; 55% disease condition and prognosis; 38% not adequate family support; 47% financial difficulties; and 46% difficulty with transportation. The study found no statistically significant association between the level of anxiety and several socio-demographic and disease-related variables, such as age, gender, educational status, occupation, number of chemotherapy cycles, presence of comorbidities, financial scheme involved, and family support (P<0.05). The results show how critical it is to recognize anxiety in patients receiving chemotherapy. Addressing the contributing factors may help prevent anxiety from occurring in those undergoing chemotherapy.