Effects of worries about hospital treatments or follow-up appointments during COVID-19 pandemic on supportive care needs in cancer patients

Abstract

Purpose With the basic characteristics of cancer patients as an independent variable and anxieties over hospital admission for medical treatment or follow-up appointments after the outbreak of COVID-19 as a moderator, this study explored how the two variables affected the supportive care needs of cancer patients. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 135 hospitalized patients in oncology wards were recruited from a teaching hospital in Taiwan from August 2021 to December 2021. Research tools used to complete our survey included general patient information sheets, patient characteristics, a survey on the impact of COVID-19, and the Supportive Care Needs Survey-short form. Results That 83 participants (61.5%) were worried about visiting hospitals for cancer treatment or follow-up appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple regression results revealed that an interaction occurred depending on marital status when the health system and information needs of patients had an effect on their worries about visiting hospitals for cancer treatment or follow-up appointments (B = 4.45, p = .015). An interaction also occurred depending on marital status when the sexual needs of patients had an effect on their worries about hospital treatment or follow-up appointments (B = 11.95, p = .006). An interaction occurred depending on the stage of cancer when the physical and daily living needs of patients exerted an effect on their worries about going to hospital for cancer treatment or follow-up appointments (B = 7.80, p = .002). Conclusion The relationship between the basic characteristics and supportive care needs of patients can change owing to their worries about hospital treatments or follow-up appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic.