Assessment of Anxiety and Depression Among Breast Cancer Patients in Ghana

Background: Cancer of the breast happens to be one of the most important diseases worldwide and in Ghana, accounts for the highest referral at the study site. The treatment of breast cancer has evolved over the years offering patients high rates of survival. What is missing in the literature are studies that focus on determining levels of depression and anxiety and how this assessment will impact treatment outcome for breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Hence, recognizing a better understanding in this study will promote positive social change in three different ways. First, it will serve the cancer population especially patients undergoing breast cancer treatment to manage depression and anxiety. Second, it will enhance efforts for coping and finally increase the overall quality of life of these patients undergoing treatment. Aim: This study aims to find various interventions for depression and anxiety among breast cancer patients in Ghana. Methods: The author used a mixed method design to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. The qualitative data were an interview with selected working participants whiles the quantitative data were a nonprobabilistic approach using a structured questionnaire. This mixed method was a triangulation that described how the interviews supported and confirmed the responses from the patient participants. There was an evaluation of the relationships with a combination of two modified scales, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). The sample consisted of 100 patients between the ages of 20-89, and six professionals with a minimum of five years' work experience. Results: Findings of this study indicated the need intervene through counseling and education on behalf of patients in Ghana as they undergo breast cancer treatment. Age and monthly income of patients were statistically significant in predicting the anxiety and depression among the patients. The R (0.397) value was less than 0.5, which depicted that the alternate hypothesis could be accepted. The independent variables significantly predicted the anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The study illustrates a need to understand how breast cancer patients in Ghana go through treatment with the high impact of anxiety and depression with treatment which affects total well-being and life after treatment. Although interventions and management should be available to breast cancer patients with anxiety and depression undergoing treatment of their coping with the burden of the disease, a striking improvement in the survival of patients could be achieved when proper systems are put in place by the Ministry of Health and the government.