RESUMO
Background: Psychological distress may worsen during cancer treatment and affect well-being. Information on the prevalence of distress and its associated variables in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in rural Bangladesh has not been thoroughly explored. To address this, we aimed to assess psychological distress and its associated factors in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in rural Bangladesh. Only adult patients with cancer who were receiving chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. The validated Depression Anxiety Stress Scale was used to assess psychological distress. Frequency and percentages were used in descriptive analysis, and logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate potential associated factors for depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: Participants comprised 415 patients with a mean age of 46.3 years. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 61.5%, 55.4%, and 22.0%, respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients with more than five family members and smokeless tobacco users had a significant association with depression, anxiety, and stress. In contrast, participants aged >60 years had a protective association with depression. Conclusions: Our findings show that patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy experience a high prevalence of depression and anxiety and that the use of smokeless tobacco and having six or more family members are associated with psychological distress. These findings will aid health professionals and policymakers in establishing and implementing improved care programs to ensure the greater mental health of cancer survivors, particularly in resource-limited settings.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, are a significant global public health concern. Family members or friends who serve as caregivers significantly contribute to supporting cancer patients without formal medical training. In most cases in Bangladesh, women perform caregiving activities with household responsibilities and lack adequate support from the family and healthcare systems; consequently, they face a significant burden as caregivers. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of combined mobile health (mHealth) psychoeducation and the Benson relaxation technique (BRT) on the caregiving burden among female informal caregivers of cancer patients in Bangladesh. METHODS: We shall conduct a prospective, open-label, two-arm (1:1), randomized controlled trial in a hospital, focusing on the burden of informal female caregivers of cancer patients in Bangladesh. The combined intervention will be delivered to the intervention group through mHealth starting April 2024 and will span six months. Participants' data will be collected through face-to-face interviews using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Bangla Short Instrument. Outcomes will be assessed at the baseline, midline, and endline. We shall employ descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The t-test or Mann-Whitney U test will be used to compare continuous variables. Additionally, a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance will be employed to evaluate the outcomes. RESULTS: Participant enrollment began in January 2024, and recruitment is ongoing. The results of this study will be disseminated through publications and conferences. No external professional writers were involved in writing this manuscript. CONCLUSION: This study addresses the gap in the assessment of combined interventions for caregiver burden in Bangladesh. These outcomes may provide valuable insights into caregivers' well-being, caregiving responsibilities, and the potential for integrated interventions to reduce the burden, especially among women. If effective, we recommend the national integration of psychoeducation and BRT using mHealth.