Aim

This study was conducted for the purpose of defining anxiety state of mothers whose children between 3-12 years old who had chemotherapy treatment.

Materials and Methods

The research was conducted as a definer within Istanbul borders in an Education & Research Hospital and a Gynaecology & Pediatrics Education Research Hospital by receiving related permissions between February-April 2009. The universe included the mothers of children who had chemotherapy in the hospital where the research was conducted. The sample included 80 mothers who applied to the hospitals and accepted the research within related dates. The datas were collected with a survey had 25 questions and Beck Anxiety Scale by researchers. Analysis of the datas was performed on computer environment by using Percentage Evaluation Test and Chi Square Test.

Results

In our study, it was defined that the mothers’ average of age was 33.32 ±7.5. It was seen that anxiety level of mothers whose children having chemotherapy was 51.3 % and reasonable. It was determined that when level of income increased the mothers’ anxiety decreased (p<0.05). It was found that nausea and vomiting ( p<0.05), diarrhea and constipation (p<0.05) which are side-effects of chemotherapy affected mothers’ anxiety reasonably. It was also determined that the anxiety level of mothers whose children took psychological support decreased (p<0.05).

Conclusion

It was determined that level of income of the family had an effect on the anxiety, when the level of income increased the indication of anxiety decreased and taking psychological support of children made the anxiety level decreased. It is thought that providing psychological support to the children having chemotherapy treatment and their mother makes treatment process easier for both the children and the mothers and decreases mothers’ anxiety as well.

Keywords: Anxiety, chemotherapy, children, psychology