Psychosocial Distress in Adult Patients Awaiting Cancer Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Cancer causes substantial emotional and psychosocial distress, which may be exacerbated by delays in treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased wait times for many patients with cancer. In this study, the psychosocial distress associated with waiting for cancer surgery during the pandemic was investigated. This cross-sectional, convergent mixed-methods study included patients with lower priority disease during the first wave of COVID-19 at an academic, tertiary care hospital in eastern Canada. Participants underwent semi-structured interviews and completed two questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Qualitative analysis was completed through a thematic analysis approach, with integration achieved through triangulation. Fourteen participants were recruited, with cancer sites including thyroid, kidney, breast, prostate, and a gynecological disorder. Increased anxiety symptoms were found in 36% of patients and depressive symptoms in 14%. Similarly, 64% of patients experienced moderate or high stress. Six key themes were identified, including uncertainty, life changes, coping strategies, communication, experience, and health services. Participants discussed substantial distress associated with lifestyle changes and uncertain treatment timelines. Participants identified quality communication with their healthcare team and individualized coping strategies as being partially protective against such symptoms. Delays in surgery for patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in extensive psychosocial distress. Patients may be able to mitigate these symptoms partially through various coping mechanisms and improved communication with their healthcare teams.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus before and after COVID-19 Lockdown: How the Perception of Disease Changes through the Lenses of Narrative Medicine

“…Nonetheless, other studies have recently focused on patients affected by other pathological conditions. The analysis conducted by Forner and colleagues underlined that delays in surgery for cancer patients due to the pandemic resulted in extensive psychosocial distress, and found that patients could mitigate these effects through various coping mechanisms and improved communication with their healthcare teams [15]. Furthermore, the COVID-19 lockdown significantly and negatively impacted younger people with multiple sclerosis (MS), in particular in those with progressive types of MS and psychological symptoms [16].…”

Aspects of Psychiatric Comorbidities in Breast Cancer Patients in Tertiary Hospitals Due to COVID-19 Outbreak in South Korea: A Single Center Longitudinal Cohort Study

“…Treatment protocols for cancer patients have changed, and healthcare provisions have decreased [ 4 , 5 ]. The delay in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease has caused psychological pain among cancer patients [ 6 ].…”

Distress in a Pandemic: Association of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic with Distress and Quality of Life in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

“…For patients with cancer, it has impacted both treatment and recovery trajectories. 1 , 2 Patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are especially vulnerable to care changes imposed by the pandemic due to factors associated with HSCT, including the intensive treatment with a prolonged hospitalization, high burden of physical symptoms due to potential toxic side effects, and quality of life (QOL) challenges in recovery. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 Outside the hospital, HSCT patients grapple with weeks of social isolation and quarantine requirements from a compromised immune system, contributing to distress and QOL impairments in this population.…”