The Level of COVID-19 Anxiety among Oncology Patients in Poland

Abstract

Cancer patients tend to have a high psychological burden. Half of cancer patients suffer from severe affective disorders and anxiety disorders, while one-third struggle with mild forms of these. The COVID-19 pandemic is damaging the mental health of the population due to social restrictions. A growing number of studies note the role of COVID-19 anxiety in the health and quality of life of cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to estimate the level of COVID-19 anxiety among oncology patients and to test the utility of the FCV-19S scale in a population study of cancer patients. The study included 600 respondents (300 oncology patients and 300 control subjects not undergoing oncological treatment). The FCV-19S scale and the GAD-7 scale were used in the study. The results were interpreted according to the following verbal scale: 76–100%, high anxiety; 56–75%, moderate anxiety; 26–55%, low COVID-19 anxiety; <25%, no COVID-19 anxiety. In the analysis of the GAD-7 questionnaire results, the mean score obtained was 8.21 (min. 0; max. 21; SD 5.32). For 81% of respondents in the group of oncology patients, the total score indicated the presence of anxiety symptoms with varying degrees of severity; in the control group, this proportion was 55% of respondents. The FCV-19S scale score as a percentage was 57.4% for oncology patients, indicating a moderate level of fear of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and 30.3% for the control group, indicating a low level of fear of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. One-fifth of oncology patients were afraid of losing their lives due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus; in the control group, this proportion was 13% of respondents. Oncology patients were characterized by a higher prevalence of sleep disturbance than control group respondents, which was associated with greater anxiety. The study, therefore, shows that oncology patients have moderate levels of anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and non-oncology patients show lower levels of anxiety.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on outpatient visits for patients with cancer in Iran: an interrupted time series analysis

“…Different studies showed that cancer patients had experienced a higher level of stress, anxiety and depression to receive health services when compared to non-cancer patients with the onset of Covid-19 (29,30).…”

A study of COVID anxiety, spiritual well-being and resilience levels in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in the south of Iran

“…Similarly, according to a study by Kim et al [ 39 ], in the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with cancer experienced depression and anxiety about the viral pandemic and disruption to their access to healthcare services, which may have adversely affected their mental health and led to behavioral disorders. The studies of Vicinanza et al [ 10 ] and Grajek et al [ 11 ], highlights the presence of anxiety in the cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy during the pandemic of COVID-19. Also, the findings of previous studies showed that the side effects of chemotherapy can cause psychosocial damage such as pain, depression, insomnia and anxiety in patients [ 40 , 41 ] and during the epidemic of Covid-19, consequently increased psychological pressure due to COVID-19, was increased the level of these psychological damages [ 42 ].…”

“…[10] and Grajek et al [11], highlights the presence of anxiety in the cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy during the pandemic of COVID-19. Also, the findings of previous studies showed that the side effects of chemotherapy can cause psychosocial damage such as pain, depression, insomnia and anxiety in patients [40,41] and during the epidemic of Covid-19, consequently increased psychological pressure due to COVID-19, was increased the level of these psychological damages [42].…”

“…Most of the previous work on linkages between distress, resilience and spiritual well-being in patients undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic was conducted in developed countries and different cultural characteristics; these findings may not be generalizable to developing countries with different population characteristics [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Moreover, the simultaneous examination of the relationship between the three variables of spiritual well-being, anxiety and resilience in patients under Chemotherapy has not yet been studied in Iran.…”

“…These patients have faced many challenges and stressful situations since the onset of the pandemic, which, in some cases, have disinclined them to visit the hospital and pursue their treatment [9]. The studies of Vicinanza et al [10] and Grajek et al [11], highlights the presence of clinically significant anxiety in the cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy during the pandemic of COVID-19.…”