Critical Issues for Patients and Caregivers in Neuro-Oncology during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What We Have Learnt from an Observational Study.
Curr Oncol
; 31(7): 3895-3907, 2024 Jul 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39057160
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The COVID-19 pandemic affected neuro-oncological patients and their caregivers regarding tumor care and emotional functioning, including Quality of Life (QoL). This study aimed to understand how COVID-19 affected their psychological state and the relations between patients and health personnel in neuro-oncology.METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted on neuro-oncological patients and their caregivers.RESULTS:
A total of 162 patients and 66 caregivers completed the questionnaire. Altogether, 37.5% of patients perceived a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 compared to the general population. On a 0-10 scale, the patients' tumor-related anxiety score was 5.8, and their COVID-19-related score was 4.6. The caregivers reported 7.7 and 5.5, respectively. QoL was described as at least good in 75% of both patients and caregivers; the caregivers' care burden increased in 22.7% of cases during the pandemic, with no correlation with QoL. Future perception often changed, both in patients and caregivers. In 18% of cases, the cancer treatment schedule was changed, either by patient decision or by medical decision. However, 93.5% of patients were satisfied with their overall care.CONCLUSIONS:
A considerable proportion of patients and caregivers still perceived the tumor disease as more burdensome than the pandemic, and their future as more uncertain. Such data suggest the need to build a productive alliance between patients and health professionals.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Quality of Life
/
Caregivers
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
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Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Curr Oncol
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy
Country of publication:
Switzerland