Psychological Distress in Cancer Patients: A Cross- Sectional Study

Abstract

Cancer patients often experience significant psychological distress, which can impact their treatment adherence, quality
of life, and overall prognosis. This study aims to assess the prevalence, contributing factors, and severity of psychological
distress among cancer patients. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at SVS Medical College & Hospital
and Mahabubnagar Cancer Hospital over six months, involving 100 cancer patients. Psychological distress was assessed
using the NCCN Distress Thermometer, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23 and Graph Pad
Prism version 9. The results indicate that females (62.7%) experienced significantly higher distress than males (37.3%).
Age-wise distribution showed that the majority of patients were ≥51 years (35%), with a mean age of 42.31 ± 16.46 years.
Weight distribution analysis revealed that most patients fell within the 51-70 kg category (63%). Notably, distress levels were
highest in stage I (24%) and stage IV (24%) cancer patients, suggesting that initial diagnosis and late-stage disease contribute
most to emotional distress. The study highlights the need for psychosocial interventions, routine distress screening,
and counseling support to help cancer patients cope with psychological stress. Targeted mental health interventions may
improve patient outcomes and enhance their overall well-being. Further research is recommended to explore long-term
psychological impacts and the effectiveness of distress management strategies in oncology settings.