Undergoing active treatment for gynecologic cancer during COVID-19: A qualitative study of the impact on healthcare and social support

Moran, Hannah Kang; Brooks, Joanna Veazey; Spoozak, Lori

doi:10.1016/j.gore.2020.100659

Cited by 22 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In the present study, increased care with hygiene, decreased visits, spending more time with family at home and social isolation and other preventive measures during the pandemic were found to have a positive effect on the women receiving treatment for cancer. Likewise, in a qualitative study by Moran et al one participant reported that she felt lucky since her illness coincided with the pandemic ( Moran et al, 2020 ). The participant explained that she did not miss anything and had the comfort of working from home since everybody was exposed to the same restrictions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cancer patients have been reported to put emphasis on religious sources to cope with existential worries resulting from the pandemic ( Peteet, 2020 ). Moran et al found in their qualitative study that patients with gynecological cancers developed creative coping strategies like visiting the church online, going for a walk instead of going to the gym and meeting friends by keeping the physical distance ( Moran et al, 2020 ). In the study of Hintermayer et al cancer patients were found to use similar strategies such as acknowledging the importance of the family and the society, developing personal coping strategies, feeling relieved thanks to their religious beliefs and talking about the things felt grateful for ( Hintermayer et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experiences and coping strategies of women receiving treatment for breast and gynecological cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

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Serçekuş

et al. 2021

European Journal of Oncology Nursing

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Purpose The aim of this study was to examine experiences and coping strategies of women receiving treatment for breast and gynecological cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A descriptive, phenomenological approach was adopted. The study included 15 women receiving treatment for breast and gynecological cancers in the chemotherapy center of a university hospital. Data was collected with a descriptive characteristic form and semi-structured in-depth interviews. Results Data analysis revealed three main themes: Problems, protection and coping. The main theme of 'problems' was grouped into four categories: living with anxiety and fear, social isolation, physical difficulties, and financial difficulties. 'Protection' was grouped into four categories: decreased stigmatization, increased preventive measures, increased communication between family members, and keeping distance. Coping was grouped into four categories: religious practices, social support, positive thinking, and hobbies. Conclusions The participants were found to experience psychosocial, financial and physical difficulties. However, they also mentioned positive aspects of the pandemic: elimination of stigmatization due to the obligation for everyone to wear a mask, lack of visits due to the lockdown and enhanced communication with family members due to increased time spent at home. Religious practices, social support, positive thinking and spending time on hobbies were helpful to cope with the problems experienced during the pandemic. The results of this study can guide nurses in offering high-quality nursing care and counseling to women treated for breast and gynecological cancers during the pandemic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences and coping strategies of women receiving treatment for breast and gynecological cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Türkcü

Uludağ

Serçekuş

et al. 2021

European Journal of Oncology Nursing

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“…Across all oncologic subspecialties, patients who require ongoing cancer treatment have expressed concern about disease progression based on altered treatment plans due to the pandemic. 15 – 18 Although newer studies, including those in early-stage breast and prostate cancers, provide data to suggest that treatment delays will not be associated with worse outcomes, 19 , 20 the consequences of surgical delays will not be fully understood for years to come. However, the distress due to cancer and COVID is already present, and screening and treatment should occur in real time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer in the Shadow of COVID: Early-Stage Breast and Prostate Cancer Patient Perspectives on Surgical Delays Due to COVID-19

et al. 2021

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Background During the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, elective surgeries, including oncologic surgeries, were delayed. Little prospective data existed to guide practice, and professional surgical societies issued recommendations grounded mainly in common sense and expert consensus, such as medical therapy for early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients. To understand the patient experience of delay in cancer surgery during the pandemic, we interviewed breast and prostate cancer patients whose surgeries were delayed due to the pandemic. Patients and Methods Patients with early-stage breast or prostate cancer who suffered surgical postponement at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) were invited to participate. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 21 breast and prostate cancer patients. Interviews were transcribed, and qualitative analysis using ground-theory approach was performed. Results Most patients reported significant distress due to cancer and COVID. Key themes that emerged included the lack of surprise and acceptance of the surgical delays but endorsed persistent cancer- and delay-related worries. Satisfaction with patient–physician communication and the availability of a delay strategy were key factors in patients’ acceptance of the situation; perceived lack of communication prompted a few patients to seek care elsewhere. Discussion The clinical effect of delay in cancer surgery will take years to fully understand, but there are immediate steps that can be taken to improve the patient experience of delays in care, including elicitation of individual patient perspectives and ongoing communication. More work is needed to understand the wider experiences of patients, especially minority, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and uninsured patients, who encounter delays in oncologic care. Graphical Abstract Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1245/s10434-021-10319-0.

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“…While programs exist nationally to connect gynecologic cancer patients from all over the country [ 14 , 15 ], our participants noted the importance of connecting with someone regionally, and the shift to virtual communication may also facilitate this in a rural state. Finally, healthcare systems should take advantage of the now robust electronic medical record system to deliver “support bundles” to their patients, containing links to resources and support groups [ 16 ]. Recruitment to the W2W program may be offered as part of the intake process to every newly diagnosed gynecologic cancer patient.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“There’s somebody like me”: perspectives of a peer-to-peer gynecologic cancer mentorship program

Moran

Brooks

Spoozak

2021

Support Care Cancer

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Purpose The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance’s Woman to Woman (W2W) program is a peer mentorship program for women with gynecological cancer that was founded in 2004 and has expanded to 43 sites nationwide. An initial program survey was conducted in 2013, but no qualitative studies have investigated patient experiences with peer support programs for gynecologic cancer in the USA. This study examines the match experience at one program site. The aim of this qualitative study was to capture mentor and mentee experiences giving and receiving peer support, including how relationships were initiated and developed. Methods Hour-long, semi-structured interviews were conducted with both mentors and mentees. Interviews focused on the dynamics of the mentor–mentee relationship. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and open-coded. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to organize findings into themes. Results Sixteen participants ( N = 16) were interviewed (seven mentors and nine mentees.) Three broad themes emerged: (i) pathways to the program; (ii) how connection occurred; and (iii) themes of compatibility. While program participants universally valued their match experience, frequency and mode of communication, as well as expectations of the match relationship were widely divergent among the program participants. Conclusion The W2W peer mentorship program is a valuable resource for patients with gynecologic cancer. Refining the wants and needs of mentees including mode of communication, frequency of communication, type of support desired, identifying topics of mutual interest, and introducing the concept of recurrence may improve the connectivity experienced by mentor–mentee dyads.

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Undergoing active treatment for gynecologic cancer during COVID-19: A qualitative study of the impact on healthcare and social support

Abstract: Highlights COVID-19 challenges mechanisms of gynecologic cancer care delivery. COVID-19 complicates social support for cancer patients undergoing active treatment. Patient narratives of COVID-19 may offer targeted solutions to improve care delivery.

Cited by 22 publications

References 17 publications

Experiences and coping strategies of women receiving treatment for breast and gynecological cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Experiences and coping strategies of women receiving treatment for breast and gynecological cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Cancer in the Shadow of COVID: Early-Stage Breast and Prostate Cancer Patient Perspectives on Surgical Delays Due to COVID-19

“There’s somebody like me”: perspectives of a peer-to-peer gynecologic cancer mentorship program

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