Psychosocial factors affecting cancer patients in India

Volume : VII, Issue : X, October - 2018

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

Aims:

This article reviews the psychological and social factors affecting Indian cancer patients and explores the

relationship between these factors and the age, sex and treatment protocol of the patient

Settings and Design:

This study was conducted at the Indo American Cancer hospital located in Hyderabad, India. A psychosocial form was designed and used

for collecting the information in this article.

Methods and Material:

1000 patients at Indo American Cancer Hospital were asked to 􀃶ll in the psychosocial assessment form. They were asked to tick the boxes

which accurately re􀃸ected what they were feeling or were experiencing.

Statistical analysis used:

Descriptive Analysis

Results:

The three common psychological issues experienced by the patients who participated in the study were sadness, worry, and sleeplessness.

The most common social issue experienced by the patients were family problems. Patients who were procuring treatment through surgical

methods experienced more worry when compared to those procuring treatment via chemotherapy and radiation respectively. However,

patients being treated via radiation experienced more sadness than those treated through surgery or chemotherapy.

Conclusions:

A higher proportion of surgical patients (71%) experienced more worry compared to chemotherapy or radiation patients. This could be

due to fear of complications or fear of surgery itself. This can be reduced by regular counselling.