Cancer and its Psychological Effects on Families

Abstract

Background: Cancer stands as the second-leading global cause of mortality. This malignancy exerts a profound impact not only on the afflicted individuals but also significantly affects the emotional, financial, social, and occupational well-being of their family and friends. Approximately 80% of in-home care services are shouldered by family caregivers, imposing a substantial burden on them, leading to various adverse physical, psychological, financial, social, and occupational consequences, ultimately deteriorating their quality of life. Despite the awareness among physicians regarding the strain on caregivers, they often pay minimal attention to caregivers' comprehension of the disease, a primary contributor to the psychological imbalances observed in caregivers. Objectives: This cross-sectional study is aimed at investigating the manifestations of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 139 family members of cancer patients in Tbilisi, Georgia, Hyderabad, India, and known family members of cancer patients from the UAE. Furthermore, the study evaluates the level of health literacy among family caregivers of cancer patients and its influence on the management of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress disorders. Methods: Data collection was executed utilizing the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale for depression, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scoring system for anxiety, and the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) for PTSD. The questionnaire incorporated an assessment of health literacy, encompassing inquiries concerning the comprehensibility of the caregivers' understanding of the cancer patient's diagnosis, management strategies, and prognosis. Caregivers were also evaluated on their competence in managing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD based on the information provided by physicians. Results: Among the participants, 42.5% (n=59) exhibited moderate to severe levels of depression according to the PHQ-9 scale. Likewise, moderate to severe levels of anxiety, as per the GAD-7 scoring system, were found in 36.7% (n=51) of the participants. Regarding the ITQ, among the 139 respondents, only 20.8% (n=29) displayed no re-experiencing trauma symptoms; 18.7% (n=26) reported no symptoms of avoidance; 13.7% (n=19) did not exhibit symptoms of current threat, and 12.2% (n=17) experienced no functional impairment due to stress. A substantial 91.3% (n=127) of family caregivers reported receiving adequate information from treating physicians regarding the diagnosis and management of the disease. Notably, among the 71 participants who comprehended the explanations very well, 75% (n=53) were proficient at managing their symptoms. Conclusions: The education and emphasis on the well-being of patients and caregivers should be a paramount responsibility of healthcare professionals. Healthcare systems must strive to recognize the significance of training caregivers and extend professional support to them in order to mitigate the development of depression, anxiety, and stress disorders. Extensive research in the field of psycho-oncology is imperative for the early recognition and prevention of psychological illnesses among caregivers.