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Cancer Patients and Anxiety: A Gender Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Paula Parás-Bravo

    (Faculty of Nursing, University of Cantabria. Avda Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
    Health Research Institute IDIVAL, Research Nursing Group, Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain)

  • María Paz-Zulueta

    (Faculty of Nursing, University of Cantabria. Avda Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
    Health Research Institute IDIVAL, Health Law and Bioethics Group. GRIDES, Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain)

  • Ester Boixadera-Planas

    (Ester Boixadera-Planas. 4. Servei d’Estadística Aplicada of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.Plaça Cívica, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain)

  • Víctor Fradejas-Sastre

    (Faculty of Nursing, University of Cantabria. Avda Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain)

  • Domingo Palacios-Ceña

    (Department of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Physical Medicine, University Rey Juan Carlos, Avda de Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
    Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science of University Rey Juan Carlos, Avda de Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain)

  • César Fernández-de-las-Peñas

    (Department of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Physical Medicine, University Rey Juan Carlos, Avda de Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain)

  • Cristina Alonso-Blanco

    (Department of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Physical Medicine, University Rey Juan Carlos, Avda de Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The complexity of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer means that it is often associated with anxiety symptoms. The aim of our study was to further our understanding of the oncological process and the presence of anxiety symptoms, from a gender perspective. A cross-sectional study was performed, examining 402 medical records obtained by simple random sampling of oncology patients at a hospital in northern Spain from July 2012 to July 2014. Data collection took place between February and May 2015. Psychiatric and sociodemographic variables were gathered, as well as pain variables and information regarding the oncological process. The data analysis included a descriptive univariate analysis and a bivariate analysis, and a logistic regression model was performed. Our results suggest that women with cancer suffer more anxiety symptoms than men with cancer. Women with anxiety symptoms represented 76.5% of all patients with anxiety. The OR of suffering anxiety symptoms between women and men was 2.43 (95% CI 1.05–5.63) ( p = 0.04). A greater incidence of anxiety symptoms was found in patients with cancer pain and oncological treatment with biological therapy. Our results suggest that the gender perspective is necessary in the management of mental health in patients with cancer. Nonetheless, further studies are necessary to confirm our findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Paula Parás-Bravo & María Paz-Zulueta & Ester Boixadera-Planas & Víctor Fradejas-Sastre & Domingo Palacios-Ceña & César Fernández-de-las-Peñas & Cristina Alonso-Blanco, 2020. "Cancer Patients and Anxiety: A Gender Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1302-:d:322041
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    Cited by:

    1. Omar Shamieh & Ghadeer Alarjeh & Mohammad Al Qadire & Zaid Amin & Abdelrahman AlHawamdeh & Mohammad Al-Omari & Omar Mohtadi & Abdullah Illeyyan & Omar Ayaad & Sawsan Al-Ajarmeh & Amal Al-Tabba & Khawl, 2023. "Validation of the Arabic Version of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.

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