2025, Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part A

Background: Caregivers of children with oncological conditions experience significant psychological distress, especially stress and anxiety. Understanding the prevalence and contributing factors is crucial for designing support interventions. This study was conducted to assess the stress and anxiety levels among caregivers of children with oncological conditions in a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: A descriptive research design was employed. Data were collected from 50 caregivers using non-probability purposive sampling technique. The tools used included a structured demographic questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7) Scale. The study was conducted in the Pediatric oncology OPD of a selected tertiary care hospital. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and chi-square test.

Results: Majority of caregivers were fathers (60%) in the 30-40 years age group (58%). Most of the caregivers resided in urban areas (76%) and 80% of caregivers were having nuclear families. Regarding the stress level, 78% of caregivers experienced moderate stress, while 22% had low stress. There was a significant association between education and stress level of caregiver. Concerning anxiety levels, 60% of caregivers falls into the mild category whereas 34% had moderate and 6% had minimal anxiety. The mean percentage was 40%, indicating that most caregivers experienced mild to moderate anxiety. A significant association was found between stress level and education of the caregiver and anxiety level and the caregiver’s age, relationship with the patient, and type of family.

Conclusion: Caregivers of children with cancer experience elevated levels of stress and anxiety. This emphasizes the need for early psychological screening and implementation of supportive interventions for caregivers. Tailored counseling and structured support programs in pediatric oncology units are recommended to enhance caregiver wellbeing and quality child care.