Factors associated with and predicting anxiety in informal primary caregivers of children undergoing cancer treatment

Abstract

Objective: assess the presence of anxiety in informal primary caregivers of children with cancer within the first 6 months of treatment and identify the factors of caregivers (sociodemographic and psychological) and patients (sociodemographic and medical) associated with an predicting anxiety. Method: retrospective, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Data from all caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer at the Teletón Children's Oncology Hospital were analyzed from June 2019 to December 2021. Caregivers of children with more that 6 months since diagnosis were excluded. They were evaluated using a questionnaire of sociodemographic and medical data, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory II, Zarit Burden Interview, and Distress Thermometer. Descriptive, asssociation, relative risk, and prediction analyses were conducted. Results: A total of 91 caregivers were included in the study, among whom 71.4% presented anxiety. Significant associations (p<0.05) were identified between anxiety andeducation level, depression, burden, distress, caregiver’s age, and the child’s diagnosis time. The last three variables (age younger than 31, distress, and recent diagnosis) best predicting anxiety in multivariable models. Conclusions: the sociodemographic profile of caregivers was similar to that found in other studies in Mexico. The anxiety found was lower than that described in the literature. The findings could be useful for designing interventions that promote the well-being of this population. Further studies in the initial phases of the disease, longitudinal studies, and consideration of other caregivers and patient variables are suggested.