Exploring the challenges in accessing care and support for cancer survivors in Australia during COVID-19

Davis, Cindy; Cadet, Tamara; Rune, Karina; Wilson, Patricia; Banks, Janneka

doi:10.1080/07347332.2021.1904086

Cited by 12 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For those at the end of life, the inability to be with loved ones was particularly poignant. This theme of isolation has been acknowledged in a number of surveys of cancer patients internationally [26] , [27] . Calls for greater compassionate access and increased provision of creative alternatives to face-to-face support (for example, through psycho-oncology online services, compassionate communities and social media) have been made [28] , [29] , [30] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients, their carers and oncology health professionals: A qualitative study

Butow¹,

Havard²,

Butt³

et al. 2022

Patient Education and Counseling

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective Cancer patients, carers and oncology health professionals have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in many ways, but their experiences and psychosocial responses to the pandemic are still being explored. This study aimed to document the experience of Australians living with cancer, family carers, and Oncology health professionals (HPs) when COVID-19 first emerged. Methods In this qualitative study, participants (cancer patients currently receiving treatment, family carers and HPs) completed a semi-structured interview exploring their experiences of COVID-19 and the impact it had on cancer care. Participants also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (patients) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (carers and HPs) to assess emotional morbidity. Thematic analysis was undertaken on qualitative data. Results 32 patients, 16 carers and 29 HPs participated. Qualitative analysis yielded three shared themes: fear and death anxiety, isolation, and uncertainty. For HPs, uncertainty incorporated the potential for moral distress and work-stress. Patients and carers scoring high on anxiety/depression measures were more likely to have advanced disease, expressed greater death anxiety, talked about taking more extreme precautionary measures, and felt more impacted by isolation. Conclusion Cancer and COVID-19 can have compounding psychological impacts on all those receiving or giving care. Practice Implications Screening for distress in patients, and burnout in HPs, is recommended. Increased compassionate access and provision of creative alternatives to face-to-face support are warrented.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients, their carers and oncology health professionals: A qualitative study

Butow¹,

Havard²,

Butt³

et al. 2022

Patient Education and Counseling

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Environmental factors, especially social support, have been found to affect cancer patients' psychological adaptation (Eicher et al, 2015 ) and overall resilience (Somasundaram & Devamani, 2016 ). A recent study explored the challenges in accessing care and support for cancer survivors in Australia during COVID‐19 and indicated that COVID‐19 had a significant impact on the lives of cancer survivors with the biggest challenges being reduced social support and the inability to see healthcare providers, older participants reported greater impact and distress due to COVID‐19 (Davis et al, 2021 ). In line with our findings, Chen et al ( 2021 ) have found that living alone was one of the risk factors for psychological distress including depression, anxiety and insomnia among breast cancer patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives of cancer patients during the COVID‐19 outbreak in Israel: The long‐term implications on support and well‐being in an exploratory qualitative study

Bashkin

Nahmias

Attar

et al. 2022

European J Cancer Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives The COVID‐19 pandemic's ongoing effects and long‐term implications for the mental and social state of cancer patients are not yet fully known. The current study examined cancer patients' feelings about the pandemic's long‐term impact on daily life 1 year after its outbreak in Israel and after the patient's vaccination against the virus. Methods Ten in‐depth semi‐structured interviews were conducted with cancer patients between February and April 2021. Results and Conclusions Findings indicated four main themes: (1) managing medical care and support from the medical staff, (2) the effect of the pandemic on social interactions; (3) the impact of the pandemic on family and social support and (4) the patients' psychological well‐being. Despite the patients being vaccinated, the full impact of the pandemic on cancer patients' mental and social states is still fully apparent. The findings reflect the need to assess and monitor the patients' mental state and social and medical needs during this complex time and the importance of developing external support networks.

show abstract

“…A total of fourteen studies were included in the review [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. The studies were conducted in a range of different geographies in mostly high income countries and to a lesser extent low-middle income countries: Australia n = 3 [ 47 , 54 , 59 ]; Canada n = 3 [ 48 , 50 , 51 ]; France n = 1 [ 46 ]; India n = 2 [ 55 , 57 ]; United Kingdom n = 1 [ 58 ]; United States of America n = 3 [ 49 , 53 , 56 ]; Mixed geographies n = 1 [ 52 ]. In studies with both rural and non-rural participants the rural/remote/regional n ranged from seventeen to seventy-three per cent of the total sample [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 55 , 57 , 58 , 59 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In studies with both rural and non-rural participants the rural/remote/regional n ranged from seventeen to seventy-three per cent of the total sample [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 55 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. Only two studies reported their total n as coming from rural or regional areas [ 47 , 56 ]. Baffert et al [ 46 ] did not report how many of their participants were resident in a rural area but did refer to the hospital being located in a rural setting and report on some of their findings unique to rural participants as well as the differences they found between those in rural versus city locations.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Rapid Systematic Review on the Experiences of Cancer Survivors Residing in Rural Areas during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nelson

Cooke

McLeod

et al. 2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused considerable disruption to cancer care and may have exacerbated existing challenges already faced by cancer survivors from rural areas. This has created a need for a rapid evidence synthesis to inform the development of tailored interventions that address the specific needs of rural cancer survivors who continue to be affected by the pandemic. The review was conducted following guidance from the Cochrane Rapid Review Methods Group. Database searches were performed via the EBSCOHost interface (includes MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO) on 25 May 2022 and supplemented with searches on Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed articles published after March 2020 that reported primary data on the experiences of cancer survivors residing in rural and remote settings during the pandemic were included. Findings were tabulated and written up narratively. Fourteen studies were included. The COVID-19 pandemic had a mostly detrimental impact on the experiences of rural cancer survivors. People’s individual coping mechanisms were challenging for a range of reasons. Specifically, the pandemic impacted on their ability to access testing, treatment, check-ups and supportive care, their ability to maintain and access social support with close friends and family, as well as negative consequences to their finances and emotional wellbeing with some reporting feelings of psychological distress including depression and anxiety. This review provides important insight into the experiences of rural cancer survivors that may help inform tailored support in line with the needs and challenges faced because of the pandemic.

show abstract

Exploring the challenges in accessing care and support for cancer survivors in Australia during COVID-19

Cited by 12 publications

References 8 publications

The impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients, their carers and oncology health professionals: A qualitative study

The impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients, their carers and oncology health professionals: A qualitative study

Perspectives of cancer patients during the COVID‐19 outbreak in Israel: The long‐term implications on support and well‐being in an exploratory qualitative study

A Rapid Systematic Review on the Experiences of Cancer Survivors Residing in Rural Areas during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About