Pain, Fatigue, Nausea, and Vomiting as Predictors of Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract: Purpose: The present study aimed to determine the predictive roles of pain, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting in anxiety among the patients undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).MethodsThe present cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 patients treated by HSCT referred to the centers affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The data were collected using Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire, Numerical Pain Scale, Brief Fatigue Inventory, and Rhodes Nausea and Vomiting Index. Then, the data were analyzed using Spearman’s test and multiple regression analysis. Results: The means of state anxiety, trait anxiety, pain, fatigue, and nausea, vomiting and retching were 41.67 (SD = 9.71), 43.78 (SD = 9.00), 3.79 (SD = 2.79), 4.23 (SD = 2.48), 6.31 (SD = 7.53), respectively. The results showed that the participants with higher pain and fatigue scores had higher anxiety levels. The individuals who had more nausea and vomiting had higher anxiety levels, as well. It indicated that fatigue, pain, amount of vomiting, and severity of nausea, vomiting and retching were the predictors of trait anxiety. This study showed the predictor role of pain, fatigue, and severity of retching in state anxiety. Conclusion: The study findings revealed an association between anxiety and pain, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting among the HSCT patients. The results also showed that fatigue and pain were the predictors of anxiety among the patients. Yet, future studies are recommended to determine the other factors contributing to anxiety among the HSCT patients.