A Study of Mental Health Status among Cancer Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bhopal City – A Mixed Method Study

Abstract

Background: Cancer is a major global health problem and is frequently associated with anxiety and depression that remain unrecognized and adversely affecting treatment outcome. So, the present study aims to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among cancer patients. Methods: A hospital-based mixed-method cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 adult cancer patients attending the Oncology Department of a tertiary care hospital in Bhopal for 01 year. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to collect quantitative data and in - depth interview for qualitative data. Chi square test was applied to test the association between quantitative variables and thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results: The mean age of participants was predominantly above 40 years, with males constituting 53.3%. Breast cancer (23.3%) was commonly reported cancer. The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 37% and 29%, respectively. Anxiety showed a significant association with gender (p=0.032) and cancer stage (p=0.002), while depression was significantly associated with marital status (p=0.049), socioeconomic status (p=0.033), and cancer stage (p=0.022). A strong positive correlation was observed between anxiety and depression scores (r=0.8524). Qualitative analysis showed varied perception, financial insecurity and social stigma. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of cancer patients experienced anxiety and depression, particularly those with advanced-stage disease. Participaants commonly reported fear, hopelessness, financial insecurity, social withdrawal, and concerns regarding the future. It highlights the need for routine mental health screening as a part of comprehensive cancer care.