EFFECT OF PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION ON ANXIETY AMONG BREAST CANCER PATIENTS IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL ZARIA

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a disease of global public health concern whose incidence is rising, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Psychological burden associated with BC diagnosis and treatment has negative consequences on the patients in addition to physical symptoms. Many psychosocial interventions have been developed and evaluated to reduce psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression in high-income countries. However, Nigeria and similar resource-constrained settings have received inadequate attention in this regard.

Objective: To assess the effect of psychoeducational intervention (PEI) on anxiety among breast cancer patients in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria.

Methods: The study was conducted using a quasi-experimental study design. After obtaining informed consent, eligible BC patients were recruited and assigned to intervention or control groups (1:1 distribution). For all participants, socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using a validated semi-structured questionnaire. The level of anxiety was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the anxiety sub-scale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). For the intervention group, each participant had three sessions of PEI administered with contents centered on education regarding breast cancer management, psychological support, and stress management, while the control group participants received routine BC care only. Data was entered into a secured computer and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The results were presented in frequency tables and charts after appropriate statistical analyses. Correlation coefficients between the response to PEI and continuous variables were determined. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05.

Results: A total of 70 BC patients (mean age of 46.1 ± 11.3 years) participated in this study. The mean HADS anxiety score of the participants was 11.89 ± 2.52, and 48.6% had moderate while 15.7% had severe levels of anxiety. There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of baseline data. Compared to the control group, a significant decrease in mean anxiety score of 2.44 (95% CI 1.55; 3.44, p<0.001) with an effect size of 0.81 was noted in the intervention group after PEI. A significant negative correlation (r=-0.415, p=0.015) between age and response to PEI was observed.

Conclusion: High prevalence of anxiety was noted among BC patients. Psychoeducational intervention was effective in reducing anxiety, and age was a significant predictive factor that determined response to the intervention. In our environment, assessment of anxiety and training of clinicians on PEI should be incorporated into the routine BC management.

Background: Sexual disparity in cancer prevalence and treatment approaches is a crucial factor in achieving effective cancer treatment and management globally. This study aimed to investigate gender-specific patterns of cancer types and treatments among patients in Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of different cancer types and associated treatment modalities, highlighting any sexual dimorphism among patients attending the Oncology Unit of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria, between 2022 and 2024.

Methods: This was a two-year (2022-2024) retrospective study. Data on patient demographics, cancer types, and treatment modalities were systematically collected from oncology ward records at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.

Results: A higher overall prevalence of cancer was observed in females. Gynecological cancers (cervical and ovarian) and breast cancer are the most common among females, while prostate and gastrointestinal (GIT) cancers are predominant in males. Cancers are treated either as a standalone therapy or in combination. No significant gender difference was found in the use of standalone chemotherapy. However, combination therapy involving chemotherapy and surgery was more common in male patients, while other multi-modal treatments incorporating radiotherapy, surgery, and brachytherapy were less frequent across both genders.

Conclusion: Significant gender disparities in cancer types and treatment patterns exist among patients at the Oncology Unit of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe. Females showed higher overall cancer incidence, primarily with breast and gynecological cancers, while males exhibited higher rates of prostate and GIT cancers. Gender differences were observed in treatment modalities, likely influenced by the anatomical locations of organs, such as the deep ovary versus the more superficial prostate.