Psychosocial Distress in Adult Patients Awaiting Cancer Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this study, the psychosocial distress associated with waiting for cancer surgery during the pandemic was investigated. This cross-sectional, convergent mixed-methods study 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 and completed two questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Qualitative analysis was completed through a thematic analysis approach, with integration achieved through triangulation. Fourteen participants were recruited, with cancer sites including thyroid, kidney, breast, prostate, and a gynecological disorder. Increased anxiety symptoms were found in 36% of patients and depressive symptoms in 14%. Similarly, 64% of patients experienced moderate or high stress. Six key themes were identified, including uncertainty, life changes, coping strategies, communication, experience, and health services. Participants discussed substantial distress associated with lifestyle changes and uncertain treatment timelines. Participants identified quality communication with their healthcare team and individualized coping strategies as being partially protective against such symptoms. Delays in surgery for patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in extensive psychosocial distress. Patients may be able to mitigate these symptoms partially through various coping mechanis...

Source: Current Oncology - June 2, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: David Forner Sarah Murnaghan Geoffrey Porter Ross J Mason Paul Hong S Mark Taylor James Bentley Gregory Hirsch Christopher W Noel Matthew H Rigby Martin Corsten Jonathan R Trites Victoria Taylor Cynthia Kendell Margaret Jorgensen Robin Urquhart Source Type: research