ABSTRACT
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety among prostate cancer patients, and to ascertain the association between stress status, socio-demographic, medical and surgical illness, current urinary problem and cancer status with general health-related quality of life [HRQOL] among these patients. A hospital based, cross sectional study was conducted at Surgical Clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre [UMMC] and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre [UKMMC] using universal sampling. A total of 193 patients were recruited. The prevalence of anxiety was 25.4% [95%CI: 19.2 - 31.6]. The anxiety ratings were mild anxiety [10.4%], moderate anxiety [13.6%] and severe anxiety [1.6%]. The total quality of life among stress group was 59.2 +/- 14.7 and among non-stress group was 73.9 +/- 12.7. There was a significant negative weak correlation between anxiety score and total quality of life [r[s]=-0.534, P<0.001]. In multivariable analysis, there was a significant difference in the total quality of life [QOL] among anxiety status [adj. mean diff. = -9.1 [95%CI: -15.2, -4.7]]. The adjusted mean difference was associated by age category of the patients [P<0.001]; living partner [P<0.001]; in-termittency [P=0.035] and problem of hematuria during micturition [P=0.005]. The prevalence of anxiety among prostate cancer was moderately high. Treating the urination problem as well as encouraging living with spouse/family may improve the quality of life among anxiety condition of these patients