The relationship of the preexisting anxiety problem with the demographic profile of cervical cancer patients

Objective: This study identified the association of the preexisting anxiety problem in women diagnosed with cervical cancer with their demographic characteristics. Method: This was a cross sectional study with 100 participants selected by purposive sampling method. Data were collected through Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) questionnaire and the medical records of participants. Results: Work status was the only demographic characteristic which was found to be statistically significantly related to the anxiety level of the participants before they were diagnosed with cervical cancer. Participants who worked at home as housewives were found to have higher anxiety level than those worked at the institutions or industry. Conclusions: Working women in this study were more likely to have the preexisting anxiety problem prior their cervical cancer diagnosis. This study implies the importance of promoting healthy lifestyle to manage daily stressors, considering various interrelated factors that may eventually contribute to cervical cancer development in women.