Open AccessOncological patients' reactions to COVID ‐19 pandemic: A single institution prospective study
Author(s) -
Onesti Concetta Elisa,
Schroeder Hélène,
Rorive Andrée,
Sautois Brieuc,
Lecocq Marie,
Goffin Marie,
Gonne Elodie,
Collinge Astrid,
Nicolaers Laurence,
Wéra Odile,
Catot Amandine,
Loly Catherine,
Paulus Astrid,
Sibille Anne,
Lousberg Laurence,
Troisfontaine Florence,
Collig Joëlle,
Gennigens Christine,
Frères Pierre,
Polus Marc,
Duysinx Bernard,
Vaillant Frédérique,
Marchal Nathalie,
Poncin Aurélie,
Jerusalem Guy
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
cancer reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 5
ISSN - 2573-8348
DOI - 10.1002/cnr2.1571
Subject(s) - pandemic , covid-19 , medicine , cancer , emergency medicine , intensive care medicine , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Abstract Background The spread of the COVID‐19 pandemic has led to a rapid reorganization in all human and hospital activities, with impact on cancer patients. Aim An analysis of cancer patients fears, and awareness of COVID‐19 has been done in this study. Methods and results We analyzed cancer patients' reactions to the pandemic and their perception of oncological care reorganization, through a 12‐item survey, proposed at the peak of pandemic and 3 months later. Overall, 237 patients were included in the study. During the peak of pandemic 34.6% of patients were more worried about COVID‐19 than cancer versus 26.4% in the post‐acute phase ( p = .013). Although 49.8% of patients in the acute phase and 42.3% in the post‐acute phase considered their risk of death if infected ≥50%, and more than 70% of patients thought to be at higher risk of complications, the majority of them did not consider the possibility to stop or delay their treatment. Patients were more interested in following news about COVID‐19 than cancer and they complied with all preventive measures in more than 90% of the cases. Conclusions Although cancer patients worried about COVID‐19 and evaluated the risk of complication or death due to COVID‐19 as extremely high, they were still asking for the best oncological treatment.