Volume : 7, Issue : 10, October - 2018

Psychosocial factors affecting cancer patients in India

Haritha Kodali, Anne Kalyan Sahan, Akhilaja Pratyusha, Proff. Sai Sujatha

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;Aims:</p> <div>This article reviews the psychological and social factors affecting Indian cancer patients and explores the</div> <div>relationship between these factors and the age, sex and treatment protocol of the patient</div> <div>Settings and Design:</div> <div>This study was conducted at the Indo American Cancer hospital located in Hyderabad, India. A psychosocial form was designed and used</div> <div>for collecting the information in this article.</div> <div>Methods and Material:</div> <div>1000 patients at Indo American Cancer Hospital were asked to 􀃶ll in the psychosocial assessment form. They were asked to tick the boxes</div> <div>which accurately re􀃸ected what they were feeling or were experiencing.</div> <div>Statistical analysis used:</div> <div>Descriptive Analysis</div> <div>Results:</div> <div>The three common psychological issues experienced by the patients who participated in the study were sadness, worry, and sleeplessness.</div> <div>The most common social issue experienced by the patients were family problems. Patients who were procuring treatment through surgical</div> <div>methods experienced more worry when compared to those procuring treatment via chemotherapy and radiation respectively. However,</div> <div>patients being treated via radiation experienced more sadness than those treated through surgery or chemotherapy.</div> <div>Conclusions:</div> <div>A higher proportion of surgical patients (71%) experienced more worry compared to chemotherapy or radiation patients. This could be</div> <div>due to fear of complications or fear of surgery itself. This can be reduced by regular counselling.</div>