Department of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Department of General Senology, School of Medicine, Acibadem University, Research Institute of Senology, Istanbul, Turkey.
Psychooncology. 2022 Jul;31(7):1178-1185. doi: 10.1002/pon.5907. Epub 2022 Mar 3.
Increased stress levels caused by the pandemic might cause delays in cancer treatment. We conducted a survey among cancer patients undergoing treatment to evaluate their psychological wellbeing and treatment adherence during Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Patients receiving active chemotherapy at a private oncology center between January and May 2021 were included. Healthy volunteers were employees of a district health directorate with no history of cancer or chronic disease. Treatment adherence was described as compliant if the prescribed treatment was received within a week and the information was gained from patient charts. Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and COVID-19 phobia scale (CP19-S) were administered to participants.
402 participants were included; 193 (48%) were cancer patients. The mean age of the participants was 44 years old and 68% of the participants were female. All participants' CP19-S mean score was 47.9. Patient group had significantly lower CP19-S (p = 0.006). Chronic disease and history of a shocking event were the factors associated with CP19-S. All participants reporting hospital anxiety were found to have significantly higher COVID-19 phobia levels (p < 0.05). Patients' mean HADS-anxiety score was significantly higher (7.3 vs. 6.5, p = 0.027). COVID-19 phobia was an independent factor increasing the level of anxiety and depression in both groups. Adherence to treatment was 100%.
The pandemic increased levels of anxiety, however, cancer treatment continued to be a priority in patients' lives. Strategies should be developed to support oncology patients cope with the pandemic and increase their courage to avoid treatment delays.
大流行导致的压力水平增加可能会导致癌症治疗的延迟。我们对正在接受治疗的癌症患者进行了一项调查，以评估他们在冠状病毒病 19（COVID-19）大流行期间的心理健康和治疗依从性。
纳入 2021 年 1 月至 5 月期间在一家私立肿瘤中心接受积极化疗的患者。健康志愿者是区卫生署的雇员，没有癌症或慢性疾病史。如果在一周内接受了规定的治疗并且从患者病历中获得了信息，则将治疗依从性描述为符合。向参与者发放了医院焦虑和抑郁量表（HADS）和 COVID-19 恐惧症量表（CP19-S）。
共纳入 402 名参与者，其中 193 名（48%）为癌症患者。参与者的平均年龄为 44 岁，其中 68%为女性。所有参与者的 CP19-S 平均得分为 47.9。患者组的 CP19-S 明显较低（p=0.006）。慢性疾病和震惊事件史是与 CP19-S 相关的因素。所有报告有医院焦虑的参与者均发现 COVID-19 恐惧症水平明显较高（p<0.05）。患者的 HADS 焦虑平均评分明显更高（7.3 与 6.5，p=0.027）。COVID-19 恐惧症是增加两组焦虑和抑郁水平的独立因素。治疗依从性为 100%。
大流行增加了焦虑水平，但癌症治疗仍然是患者生活中的优先事项。应制定策略来支持肿瘤患者应对大流行并增强他们避免治疗延迟的勇气。
