Investigating the level of depression in caregivers of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy depression, cancer, caregivers

Caregivers of cancer patients play an important role in the admission and treatment process. Sometimes caregivers suffer from mental and physical problems that can have a negative impact on the treatment and recovery process of cancer patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the rate of major depression in caregivers of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy referred to 5 Azar Hospital in 2021.

In this cross-sectional study, caregivers of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy referred to the clinic and oncology department of 5 Azar Hospital in Gorgan in 2021 were examined. A number of 127 caregivers were selected based on the inclusion criteria. after obtaining a written consent form from the caregivers, the Beck depression questionnaire (BDI-II) and the demographic information checklist were completed. Data were measured with SPSS23 statistical software and frequency tests (number-percentage), chi-score and Fisher's exact test. The significance level was 0.05.

61.4% of caregivers were female and 56.7% of them were over 35 years old (middle age). 69.3% were married, 81.1% were from Fars, and 56.7% had university education. 16.5% mothers, 52.8% children and 30.7% husbands were sick. Out of 46.5% caregivers, 9.4% had mild depression, 25.2% had moderate depression, and 11.8% had severe depression. There was no significant relationship between depression and age, gender, and education level.

The level of depression among the studied subjects was significant, but the level of depression of the patients' caregivers had no significant relationship with their gender, age, education and ethnicity.