title: Anxiety Disorders in Family Caregivers of Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Oncologic Treatment in Malaysia
abstract: Background: Anxiety is recognized as a normal psychological reaction of those caring for cancer patients. However,
  anxiety disorders in caregivers may interfere with their care-giving role and require further clinical attention. Objectives:
  To determine the prevalence and associated factors of anxiety disorders among caregivers of breast cancer patients
  receiving oncologic treatment in Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 130
  caregiver-patient dyads, recruited by non-random sampling at Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Data were collected in 2 stages:
  1) the caregivers were screened for psychological distress using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Scale (DASS-21) while
  other related factors for the patients and their caregivers were obtained; 2) the identified distressed caregivers (n=64)
  were then administered the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to diagnose anxiety disorders. Results:
  A total of 11.5% (n=15) of the caregivers reported suffering from anxiety disorders. Bivariate analysis found duration
  of caregiving (OR=3.31; CI=2.21-11.93), shared caregiving (OR=4.07; CI=1.34-12.36), and patients’ treatment type
  (OR=3.42; CI=1.92-12.76) were significantly associated with anxiety disorders (p value <0.05), with shared caregiving
  and patient’s treatment type remaining significant using logistic regression (p value < 0.05, R2 = 0.255). Conclusions:
  Every one in ten of the caregivers in this study had a diagnosable anxiety disorder, associated with certain care-giving
  factors and patients’ treatment. This should alert clinicians to such risk and indicates psychological support needs for
  family caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Tuanku Jaafar, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Email:ruzyanei@ppukm.ukm.edu.my
authors.forename: Siti Hazrah
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Selamat Din
authors.forename: Nik Ruzyanei
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Nik Jaafar
authors.forename: Hazli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.forename: Suriati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohamed Saini
authors.forename: Siti Nor Aizah
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Marhani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midin
keywords: Family caregivers; anxiety disorders; psycho oncology; cancer