Abstract
Lung cancer is a stressful condition for both patient and family. The anxiety and pain accompanying cancer and its treatment have a significant negative influence on the patient's quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between anxiety, pain, and perceived family support in a sample of lung cancer patients. The sample consisted of a total of 101 lung cancer outpatients receiving treatment at the oncology department of a general hospital. Anxiety, pain (severity and impact on everyday life), and perceived family support were assessed using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the Family Support Scale, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed correlations between anxiety, pain, and family support as perceived by the patients. The intensity of pain had a positive correlation with both state and trait anxiety and a negative correlation with family support. Anxiety (state and trait) had a significant negative correlation with family support. In conclusion, high prevalence rates of anxiety disorders were observed in lung cancer patients. Females appeared more susceptible to anxiety symptoms with a less sense of family support. A negative correlation was evidenced between family support and anxiety and a positive one between anxiety and pain.
Highlights
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death [1, 2]
The aim of this study is to investigate whether pain among cancer patients is in any way related to anxiety and family support as perceived by the patient
As to the type of cancer, 68 patients suffered from nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 33 from small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
Summary
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death [1, 2]. Mostly prevalent in male populations, owing to the increase of habitual smoking among female individuals, the prevalence of lung cancer among women is rising [3,4,5]. Pain is one of the most common debilitating symptoms associated with lung cancer [6, 7] and is a serious issue for the patient in question but for the health personnel in general in terms of addressing the relevant symptoms [8]. All lung cancer patients go through a pain assessment in order for the relevant symptoms to be better managed and hopefully ameliorated [6, 9] Pain is defined as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage” in addition to the subjective experience and account of the individual [9].
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