From Fear to Hopelessness: The Buffering Effect of Patient-Centered Communication in a Sample of Oncological Patients during COVID-19

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 represents a threat both for the physical and psychological health of oncological patients experiencing heightened distress levels to which the fear of the virus is also added. Moreover, fear of COVID-19 could lead oncological patients to experience feelings of hopelessness related to their medical care. Patient-centered communication may act as a buffer against the aforementioned variables. This study aimed to test the role of doctor–patient communication in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and hopelessness. Methods: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a sample of 90 oncological outpatients was recruited (40 males (44.4%) and 50 females (55.6%), mean age = 66.08 (SD = 12.12)). A structured interview was developed and used during the pandemic to measure the patients’ perceived (A) fear of COVID-19, and (B) feelings of hopelessness, and (C) physicians’ use of empathetic and (D) clear language during the consultation. A multiple mediation model was tested, and the effects between males and females were also compared. Results: Empathetic and clear doctor–patient communication buffered the adverse effect of the fear of COVID-19 on hopelessness through a full-mediation model. The effects did not differ between males and females in the overall model but its indirect effects. Discussions: Patient-centered communication using empathy and clear language can buffer the adverse effect of the fear of COVID-19 and protect oncological patients from hopelessness during the pandemic. These findings might help to improve clinical oncological practice.

Factors impacting resilience as a result of exposure to COVID-19: The ecological resilience model

“…According to literature (e.g., Bonanno & Diminich, 2013) [ 73 ], age may have a curvilinear relationship with resilience, with the younger and elder individuals at higher risk for psychological issues [ 74 – 76 ]. Thus, particular attention should be dedicated to individuals with unfavourable conditions and the already vulnerable groups, as great elderlies [ 63 , 77 ], patients with pre-existing medical diseases–e.g., cardiac, oncological [ 26 , 75 , 78 – 82 ], and health-care professionals [ 83 , 84 ] for which the COVID-19 may have increased the risk of developing dangerous consequences and detrimental effects on both physical and mental health.…”

“…In this conceptualisation resilience is considered a binary outcome (see [ 24 ] below for a discussion of measurement approaches). To our knowledge, to date, few studies focused on positive outcomes during the 2020 pandemic [ 25 , 26 ] and even fewer on resilience [ 27 , 28 ]. Those that do focused on trait resilience (see [ 10 ] for a discussion).…”

Changes in the Comprehensiveness of Rural Medical Care for Older Japanese Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The appropriate utilization of medical care can be encouraged during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, reducing such care may worsen the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals, which can diminish patients' quality of life [48,49]. To sustain this relationship, hybrid consultation systems should be applied, using ICT to ensure the sustainability of patient-centered care and continuity of care by maintaining face to face interaction with the reduced risk of infection [50].…”

Enhancing Tools for Sustainable Health Communication within Covid-19

“…In line with the global community vision, Academia considers communication on health issues during COVID-19 within crisis and emergency risk communication framework (Abrams & Greenhawt ,2020). Scholars underline the critical value of information transparency and trust during the COVID-19 pandemic (Spalluto et al, 2020), specify the need to carefully consider genres of leadership and authorities' messages (Koh et al, 2020), highlight the need for doctors to master specific communicative skills (Rubinelli et al 2020), explore ethical aspect of health communication during pandemics (Iserson, 2020), consider and evaluate the potential of healthcare professionals' empathy in the course of their communication with patients (Rossi et al, 2021), psychological support for doctors (Walton et al 2020). Scholars also explore the role of the mass media in raising public awareness of risk and shaping relevant knowledge (Karasneh, et al 2020).…”