PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS EVALUATION IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Stress Evaluation in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Objective: To assess the level of stress in breast cancer patients undergoing surgery and/or chemotherapy.
Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out from August 2015 to February 2016 in Military Hospital (MH) and Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi.
Material and Methods: The sample size was 61, which was calculated using WHO sample size calculator with a confidence interval of 95%, anticipated population proportion of 0.35 and absolute precision of 0.12. Purposive sampling technique was used. Stress levels were measured by using standardized Cohens stress Questionnaire. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 46.72 ± 12.418 years. Among breast cancer patients who went for surgery all were having high stress that is 9 (100%). Among the chemotherapy patients, there was 1 (7.1%) in average stress category, 4 (28.6%) in moderate stress category and 9 (64.3%) in high stress category. Those patients who underwent surgery and chemotherapy sessions, there were 5 (13.2%) in average stress, 12 (31.6%) in moderate stress and 21 (55.3%) in high stress category but association was statistically not significant (p=0.165). 
Conclusion: High level of stress was found in both the treatment modalities. Illiterate and unemployed had a considerably greater stress category as compared to educated and employed.