Investigation of coronavirus anxiety and caregiving burden among the parents of children with cancer during the COVID‐19 outbreak: A descriptive and cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to investigate the coronavirus anxiety and caregiving burden of parents of children with cancer during the COVID‐19 outbreak. Methods This descriptive and cross‐sectional study, including 136 parents of children with cancer, was administered through an online survey at a university hospital from 1 to 31 January 2021. Participants completed a questionnaire form, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. Results This study identified a significant difference in the caregiving burden scores of parents according to whether their relatives had been diagnosed with COVID‐19, whether they were exposed to coronavirus in their environment and whether their children had other illnesses. A significant difference in the coronavirus anxiety scores of parents was observed according to their child's sex and the time elapsed since their child's cancer diagnosis. No correlation was identified between the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale scores and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale scores. Conclusion Oncology nurses and other health professionals should be aware of and consider the factors that influence the caregiving burden and coronavirus‐related anxiety experienced by parents of children with cancer during the COVID‐19 outbreak.

Mental Wellbeing among Children with Cancer during COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia: A Cross-sectional Study

“…Children with chronic illness and cystic fibrosis who were thought to have risks of developing psychosocial problems during the pandemic were also not significantly affected. 33 34…”

“…Children with chronic illness and cystic fibrosis who were thought to have risks of developing psychosocial problems during the pandemic were also not significantly affected. 33,34 In addition, more than half of our patients (58.3%) undergoing treatment lived in temporary housing such as rentals and boarding home for childhood cancer patients. The boarding home for childhood cancer patients helped establish a community of patients and their guardians for mutual support.…”

A Mixed-Method Examination of Emerging and Young Adult Cancer Caregivers’ Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…These losses could have heightened their perception of strain and their negative emotions, particularly in conjunction with the lack of in-person support they were able to receive due to physical distancing and lockdown mandates. Other studies of cancer caregiving during the pandemic also demonstrated that pandemic-induced social isolation and other psychological pressures may have negatively affected caregivers’ well-being [ 19 , 44 , 45 ]. This impact may be particularly salient for EYACs, as they are at higher risk for developing psychopathology, such as anxiety and depression [ 14 , 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

“…We speculate that EYACs’ disappointment with medical care options during the pandemic may have cascading implications for their long-term grief adjustment, propensity for post-loss psychological growth, and broader attitudes about healthcare systems [ 46 ]. For example, pandemic restrictions limited many of the communication tools palliative care clinicians employ to help family members prepare for bereavement, such as in-person family meetings and end-of-life conversations at the bedside [ 44 ]. Their absence, along with the inability to hold remembrance services that provide comfort and opportunities for EYACs to receive support, likely increased their risk of experiencing complicated grief responses [ 47 ] and possibly promoted pessimism about navigating future caregiving or health circumstances.…”