2Department of Psychiatry, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya-Türkiye
3Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya-Türkiye
4Department of Radiation Oncology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya-Türkiye DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2023.3810 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.