Changes in experienced quality of oncological cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic based on patient reported outcomes - a cross-sectional study.
Journal
Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden)
ISSN: 1651-226X
Titre abrégé: Acta Oncol
Pays: Sweden
ID NLM: 8709065
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
30 Jun 2024
30 Jun 2024
Historique:
received:
20
02
2024
accepted:
31
05
2024
medline:
1
7
2024
pubmed:
1
7
2024
entrez:
1
7
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients' perceptions of the quality of their oncological treatment and care. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery and oncological resources were repurposed, potentially leading to prolonged treatment and reduced access to innovative therapies and clinical trials. Still, little is known about how patients perceived the quality of their treatment. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the spring of 2020 among cancer patients at the Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital and Rigshospitalet, Denmark. Patients were invited to complete an online questionnaire on clinical, socioeconomic, emotional, behavioural, and quality-related aspects of oncological cancer care. Patients who experienced reduced treatment quality and those who reported no or slight reductions were compared using multiple logistic regression, exploring the associations with patient characteristics, behaviours, and fear of cancer progression or recurrence. A total of 2,040/5,372 patients experienced changes in their treatment plans during the pandemic, and 1,570/5,372 patients experienced reduced treatment quality, with 236 reporting a high degree of reduction. Patients with breast, head and neck, and upper gastrointestinal cancers were more likely to experience reduced treatment quality. Altered interactions with healthcare providers, along with isolation, lack of social support, and heightened fear of cancer progression, were significant risk factors for experiencing reduced cancer care quality. We identified subgroups of cancer patients needing targeted communication and care during health crises affecting cancer treatment. The findings underscore the importance of safeguarding the needs of vulnerable patient populations in future healthcare emergencies.
Sections du résumé
AIM
OBJECTIVE
The study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients' perceptions of the quality of their oncological treatment and care.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery and oncological resources were repurposed, potentially leading to prolonged treatment and reduced access to innovative therapies and clinical trials. Still, little is known about how patients perceived the quality of their treatment.
METHODS
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in the spring of 2020 among cancer patients at the Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital and Rigshospitalet, Denmark. Patients were invited to complete an online questionnaire on clinical, socioeconomic, emotional, behavioural, and quality-related aspects of oncological cancer care. Patients who experienced reduced treatment quality and those who reported no or slight reductions were compared using multiple logistic regression, exploring the associations with patient characteristics, behaviours, and fear of cancer progression or recurrence.
RESULTS
RESULTS
A total of 2,040/5,372 patients experienced changes in their treatment plans during the pandemic, and 1,570/5,372 patients experienced reduced treatment quality, with 236 reporting a high degree of reduction. Patients with breast, head and neck, and upper gastrointestinal cancers were more likely to experience reduced treatment quality. Altered interactions with healthcare providers, along with isolation, lack of social support, and heightened fear of cancer progression, were significant risk factors for experiencing reduced cancer care quality.
INTERPRETATION
CONCLUSIONS
We identified subgroups of cancer patients needing targeted communication and care during health crises affecting cancer treatment. The findings underscore the importance of safeguarding the needs of vulnerable patient populations in future healthcare emergencies.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38946287
doi: 10.2340/1651-226X.2024.40141
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM