Uncertainty, anxiety, depression and the quality of life in patients with cancer

Background: Cancer diagnosis is a potentially fatal alteration in life which could be related to uncertainty resulting in anxiety and depression, decreasing the quality of life even death thoughts and suicide. This study aimed at assess the relationship among uncertainty, anxiety, depression and the quality of life among patients with cancer. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the research population was 163 patients suffering from cancer, referred to chemotherapeutic center of Shahid Rahimi educational hospital. They were entered to study in categorized random sampling based on determined share of type of cancers and gender in a pilot study. They should be aware about their diagnosis, age of 21 or higher, and with no psychotic diseases. By considering ethical considerations included anonymity and confidentiality of participants and taking informant consent, data gathered by fulfilling some questionnaire consisted of demographic information, Michel’s uncertainty in illness scale, WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and HADS scale. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 24, by using descriptive and inferential statistics. (p=0.05) Results: According to the results, patients had a high level of uncertainty in illness and their quality of life was at medium level. Also, limited number of patients had sever anxiety and depression but the majority of them had moderate and mild anxiety and depression respectively. Besides, there was a positive significant relation between uncertainty in illness and anxiety and a reverse significant relation between uncertainty in illness and the quality of life (p<0.001). Although, there wasn't relation between uncertainty and depression. Conclusions: By considering high level of uncertainty in patients with cancer as an inappropriate and disturbing experience, applying effective strategies by caregivers to decrease uncertainty in illness can decline psychological distress and promote the quality of life in them.