Relationship of Psychiatric Morbidity, Symptom Severity, Performance Status and Social Support with Sleep Quality Among Adult Cancer Patients in Jammu, India: An Institution Based Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Cancer Patients usually have poor sleep quality, which has detrimental physical and psychological consequences. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between psychiatric morbidity, symptom severity, performance status, and social support with sleep quality among cancer patients in Jammu City, India.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among cancer patients using face-to-face structured interview questionnaires from August 2023 to July 2024. The study used several questionnaires, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for psychiatric symptoms, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for symptom severity, the ECOG Performance Status Scale for daily functioning, and the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSS-3) for social support. Chi-square was a test of significance, with a p value < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: Among 350 respondents in the present study, the results revealed that besides anxiety and depression, pain, nausea, psychological distress, poor performance, and poor social support significantly affected the sleep quality (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Psychiatric morbidity (anxiety and depression), poor performance, and poor social support were all significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Screening and management in earlier stages is key in these patients to improve sleep quality.