Cancer patients’ experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and their satisfaction with telehealth

Objective: Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound emotional impact in general population and, especially, in patients with chronic diseases, like cancer patients. Moreover, it has placed unparalelled demands on healthcare systems. The aim of the present study is to explore this impact on oncology patients from their own experience, assess their coping strategies and also know their opinion about the healthcare assistance received. Method: One hundred and eighteen oncology patients from 5 different hospitals around Barcelona participated in the study. Data was collected using both HADS and an ad-hoc questionnaire which evaluated emotional distress, coping strategies, risk-contagion perception, social support and assessment of changes in healthcare assistance. Results: A total of 51.4% of the subjects presented high rates of anxiety and 36% depression. Worry (73.7%), fear (72.8%), anxiety and sadness (56.1%) were the most frequent emotions expressed. Around 74.1% of the sample felt very satisfied with the healthcare services and 94.6% felt supported by their health team. A 40.7% of the patients disagreed with telemedicine assessment, while 33.7% had predominantly a positive perception. Conclusions: Oncology patients considered that COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected their emotional status and quality of life. Getting to know patients’ opinions about telemedicine may aid in facilitating care and improving its design to provide better and more efficient care.

Learning from the grief experience during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: This descriptive, cross-sectional study with a qualitative methodology aimed to gain insight into the experience of relatives of patients who died during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to detect those aspects that play a protective role against the emotional impact of losing a loved one. Material and methods: A semi-structured interview was carried out by phone to assess, from the perspective of family members, a number of variables associated with the end of life process and death (tasks related to the circumstances of death, protectors and risk factors of complicated grief, satisfaction with psychological support, and interest in receiving information about a Grief Support Service). Results: A content analysis of 126 interviews allowed us to approach the main factors that (1) complicated the experience – state of alarm and its restrictions, other losses and concomitant circumstances, and perceived violation of a dignified death;(2) eased the experience – family support, own resources, search for meaning, and consideration of the patient as a source of support;or (3) factors than either complicated or eased the experience, depending on whether they were present – presence and care, health care, and performance of rituals.