Anxiety, Depression, and Outbreak Anxiety and Related Factors in Patients with Cancer Receiving Radiotherapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with anxiety, depression, and outbreak anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with cancer. METHODS This study was conducted at a university training and research hospital. Two groups (patients with cancer and their caregivers) were asked questions about the COVID period. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and the Outbreak Anxiety Scale were used to measure the variables. RESULTS COVID-19 was the most worrying situation among the two groups and was statistically higher than worry about cancer and other medical illnesses. When the HADS-Total, HADS-Depression (HADS-D), and HADS-Anxiety scores and outbreak anxiety were compared, there was no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). However, outbreak anxiety was higher in the patient group living in rural areas (p<0.05). HADS-Total scores were higher in patients with delays in cancer treatment than those who lost their relatives during the pandemic (p<0.05). HADS-D was higher in those who lost their relatives, working individuals, and the palliative RT group (p<0.05). Further, those who had psychiatric histories had higher scores of outbreak anxiety (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Patients with cancer were particularly negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those with a previous psychiatric history. In addition, living in a rural area, delay in radiotherapy (RT), losing a relative due to COVID-19, and working and receiving palliative RT are other related factors.