Assessment of Psychological Distress among Cancer Patients in North Central Province of Sri Lanka: A Cross-Sectional Study

Cancer, which is a serious health problem globally today, has become a leading cause of death, and it diminishes the psychological well-being and quality of life of patients as well as their families. Even though medical treatments focus on the cancer, there is little concern for identifying the psychological issues and providing psychological support to cancer-diagnosed patients. This study aimed to assess the psychological distress and identify related psychological problems among cancer patients while highlighting the significance of psychological support for them. The study employed quantitative methods, and the sample comprised 60 diagnosed cancer patients from the North Central Province of Sri Lanka who were receiving medical treatment and residing at the Cancer Care Hospice and Teaching Hospital in Anuradhapura. Data were collected using the GHQ-30 Sinhala version and statistically analysed using IBM SPSS version 25. The study found that a significant majority of the cancer patients in the selected sample suffered from psychological distress, including associated factors such as depression, loss of confidence, insomnia, social dysfunction, and anxiety. It was concluded that a substantial number of cancer patients are experiencing serious psychological problems regardless of age, gender and level of education, and therefore, providing psychological support through counselling, psychotherapy, and psychiatric treatment is essential for cancer patients to enhance their mental health and overall quality of life.