Anxiety towards peripheral intravenous catheters and port-a-cath's in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy

The purpose of this study was to assess the level of anxiety an oncology patient had towards receiving a chemotherapeutic agent through a peripheral intravenous catheter versus a Port-A-Cath. Ninety-two patients from a Northern Kentucky outpatient treatment center consented to participate in this study from November 27 thru December 1, 2006. Participants were asked to complete the Spielberger STAI (1983) state anxiety questionnaire prior to and just after being accessed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a paired T-test were used to analyze the data. The study showed oncology patients with Port-A-Caths had a lower total anxiety score both before and after being accessed than a patient receiving a peripheral IV, and men had a lower total anxiety score than women. Age and type of cancer had no significant effect on the total anxiety scores of these participants. Further research and guidelines are needed to provide future changes to chemotherapy administration.