Depression, anxiety, and performance status among the women with metastatic breast cancer receiving palliative care in Bangladesh: A cross sectional study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Advanced breast cancer patients suffer from various psychological issues including depression and anxiety. This study aims to explore these psychological issues and their relationship with the performance status. METHODS: This cross‐sectional study was conducted among 95 patients with metastatic breast cancer attending the Department of Palliative Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh from April 2021 to September 2021. Data was collected by face‐to‐face interview using a structured questionnaire along with Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale. The performance status of the patients was determined by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance scale. The association between different variables were assessed by χ (2) test and Fisher Exact test. RESULT: Mean age of the respondents was 48.9 ± 9.9 years. Most of them were married (94.7%), muslim (92.6%) and homemakers (82.1%). More than half (52.6%) of the patients were evaluated having ECOG performance status grade II. Four out of ten (44.2%) patients had moderate to severely anxiety, and almost one‐third (36.9%) patients were suffering from moderate to severe depression. The patients with high educational status were found to have less depression. In addition, patients faring better on ECOG performance scale (Grade 0 to I) had significantly (p < 0.05) less depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Depression and anxiety are one of the major psychological sufferings among the women with metastatic breast cancers. All women suffering from breast cancer should be routinely screened and assessed for phychological distress and ensure early intervention.