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- Title
Psychosocial Distress in Adult Patients Awaiting Cancer Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Authors
Forner, David; Murnaghan, Sarah; Porter, Geoffrey; Mason, Ross J.; Hong, Paul; Mark Taylor, S.; Bentley, James; Hirsch, Gregory; Noel, Christopher W.; Rigby, Matthew H.; Corsten, Martin; Trites, Jonathan R.; Taylor, Victoria; Kendell, Cynthia; Jorgensen, Margaret; Urquhart, Robin
- Abstract
Cancer causes substantial emotional and psychosocial distress, which may be exacerbatedby delays in treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased wait times for manypatients with cancer. In this study, the psychosocial distress associated with waiting for cancersurgery during the pandemic was investigated. This cross-sectional, convergent mixed-methodsstudy included patients with lower priority disease during the first wave of COVID-19 at an academic,tertiary care hospital in eastern Canada. Participants underwent semi-structured interviews andcompleted two questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and PerceivedStress Scale (PSS). Qualitative analysis was completed through a thematic analysis approach, withintegration achieved through triangulation. Fourteen participants were recruited, with cancersites including thyroid, kidney, breast, prostate, and a gynecological disorder. Increased anxietysymptoms were found in 36% of patients and depressive symptoms in 14%. Similarly, 64% of patientsexperienced moderate or high stress. Six key themes were identified, including uncertainty, lifechanges, coping strategies, communication, experience, and health services. Participants discussedsubstantial distress associated with lifestyle changes and uncertain treatment timelines. Participantsidentified quality communication with their healthcare team and individualized coping strategies asbeing partially protective against such symptoms. Delays in surgery for patients with cancer duringthe COVID-19 pandemic resulted in extensive psychosocial distress. Patients may be able to mitigatethese symptoms partially through various coping mechanisms and improved communication withtheir healthcare teams.
- Subjects
CANADA; COVID-19 pandemic; PSYCHOLOGICAL distress; COVID-19; PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation; MEDICAL care
- Publication
Current Oncology, 2021, Vol 28, Issue 3, p1867
- ISSN
1198-0052
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/curroncol28030173