Impact of Different Sociodemographic Factors on Mental Health Status of Female Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Recurrent Disease

CONTEXT: Deterioration in mental health and poor quality of life (QOL) among women suffering from breast and ovarian cancer is not a direct result of the illness but mediated by many other psychosocial variables. AIMS: The study intended to examine if there was any effect of educational level, residential status, family type, duration of treatment, and income level of family on anxiety, depression, and QOL among the breast and ovarian cancer patients, undergoing second- or subsequent-line chemotherapy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty married female cancer patients with breast and ovarian cancer, aging between 40 and 60 years, education level ranges from no formal education to postgraduate degree, income level ranges from Rs. 1000 per month to Rs. 20000 per month, and undergoing second- or subsequent-line chemotherapy for the past 1–10 years were studied. Levels of anxiety and depression were determined by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The QOL was measured by using WHO QOLBREF scale. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Mean and standard deviation and Levene's F values were calculated. If Levene's F value was significant, then Mann–Whitney U-test was done or else independent samples t-test was used. RESULTS: Among all the variables, education, residential status, and income affect significantly on anxiety, depression, and QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of psychosocial variables is essential for better screening of the cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and therefore, further psychological intervention can be planned accordingly.