The benefits and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for patients diagnosed with cancer and their family caregivers.
Psychooncology
; 31(6): 1003-1012, 2022 06.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1653332
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The objectives of this study were to examine benefits and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for patients diagnosed with cancer and their family caregivers.METHODS:
A 23-item questionnaire assessing COVID-19-related issues, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)-4 were administered to patients diagnosed with cancer and their family caregivers.RESULTS:
Of the 161 patients and 78 caregivers who participated, 38.1% and 32.8 were male, 95% and 84.6% Caucasian, and the mean age was 66 and 64.6 years, respectively. A total of 16.5% and 15.2% reported depressive symptoms, 18.4% and 19% reported anxiety; 35.5% and 26.6% reported poor sleep quality, and 66% and 63.3% scored one standard deviation above the norms for the PSS, respectively. Predictors of poorer patient- and caregiver-reported outcomes included greater loneliness, worry about self or family being infected by the COVID-19, and worsening relationships with family. The fear of COVID-19 led to 20.8% of patients and 24.4% of family caregivers cancelling medical appointments, procedures, and treatments. A total of 52.5% of patients and 53.2% caregivers reported that the pandemic led to benefit finding but these changes were not associated with any of the measured patient- or caregiver-related outcomes.CONCLUSIONS:
Psychological functioning for patients and caregivers was similar to that of pre-pandemic levels, however the decrease in health care utilization secondary to fear of COVID-19 was notable. While there were many negative effects of the pandemic, the majority of patients and caregivers reported some benefit to the pandemic.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Neoplasms
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Psychooncology
Journal subject:
Neoplasms
/
Psychology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Pon.5891
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