Psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients, survivors and caregivers.

Publisher: Routledge Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8309337 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1540-7586 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07347332 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Psychosoc Oncol Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Philadelphia : Routledge
Original Publication: [New York, NY] : Haworth Press, [c1983-

COVID-19* ; Health Services Accessibility* ; Socioeconomic Factors*; Cancer Survivors/*psychology ; Caregivers/*psychology ; Neoplasms/*psychology ; Social Isolation/*psychology ; Stress, Psychological/*psychology; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective: This study aimed to increase understanding of the effects of the pandemic on cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. Methods: An Internet-based survey was accessed over 2 months by individuals diagnosed with cancer or caregivers (N = 281), with descriptive statistics and chi square analysis used to compare subsets. Results: Most participants reported social isolation (76%) and mental health impact (70%) since the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic; isolation appeared to correlate with mental health impact (p < .00001). Food insecurity and financial hardship correlated significantly with mental health impact; food insecurity also correlated with social isolation. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that mental health during the pandemic in the cancer population may be impacted by social isolation, financial stress, and food insecurity, as well as stress regarding accessing cancer treatments. Awareness by psychosocial healthcare providers of need for resources to support these hardships, as well as framework to identify them, are essential elements of cancer-related care.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer; food insecurity; pandemic; social isolation; survivorship

Date Created: 20210419 Date Completed: 20210616 Latest Revision: 20210616

20221213

10.1080/07347332.2021.1913780

33870877