COVID-19 and Cancer Patients in the Second Year of the Pandemic: Investigating Treatment Impact, Information Sources, and COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices

Background: The novel coronavirus that has triggered the present COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, resulting in widespread morbidity and mortality. Patients with cancer remain one of the most vulnerable subsets of the population to the disease. This study examined the effects of the pa...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mohamed A. Ugas, Lisa Avery, Yanning Wang, Alejandro Berlin, Meredith E. Giuliani, Monika Krzyzanowska, Tina J. Papadakos, Naa Kwarley (Linda) Quartey, Diana Samoil, Janet K. Papadakos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
Series:Current Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/29/11/701
_version_ 1797465577462169600
author Mohamed A. Ugas
Lisa Avery
Yanning Wang
Alejandro Berlin
Meredith E. Giuliani
Monika Krzyzanowska
Tina J. Papadakos
Naa Kwarley (Linda) Quartey
Diana Samoil
Janet K. Papadakos
author_facet Mohamed A. Ugas
Lisa Avery
Yanning Wang
Alejandro Berlin
Meredith E. Giuliani
Monika Krzyzanowska
Tina J. Papadakos
Naa Kwarley (Linda) Quartey
Diana Samoil
Janet K. Papadakos
author_sort Mohamed A. Ugas
collection DOAJ
description Background: The novel coronavirus that has triggered the present COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, resulting in widespread morbidity and mortality. Patients with cancer remain one of the most vulnerable subsets of the population to the disease. This study examined the effects of the pandemic on cancer patients’ treatment, psychology, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Methods: A survey was emailed to 9861 patients at a cancer centre in Toronto, Canada. Descriptive results were summarized. Qualitative feedback was coded and summarized. Regression modelling was used to explore factors associated with patient psychological well-being, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results: A total of 1760 surveys were completed, with a response rate of 17.8%. Most participants did not experience any pandemic-related treatment delays, and vaccination rates were high. Participants who identified themselves as non-white (OR 3.30, CI: 1.30–5.30; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001), and those who referred to journal articles for information (<i>p</i> = 0.002) reported higher psychological impact scores. There were no significant predictors of whether participants would use personal protective equipment when leaving their homes or whether they would go to crowded places. Discussion: This study provides another snapshot of cancer patients perceptions and needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T18:24:28Z
format Article
id doaj.art-6ced7e58dcdc4bce8431988c32794ae4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1198-0052
1718-7729
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T18:24:28Z
publishDate 2022-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Current Oncology
spelling doaj.art-6ced7e58dcdc4bce8431988c32794ae42023-11-24T08:03:28ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292022-11-0129118917893610.3390/curroncol29110701COVID-19 and Cancer Patients in the Second Year of the Pandemic: Investigating Treatment Impact, Information Sources, and COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and PracticesMohamed A. Ugas0Lisa Avery1Yanning Wang2Alejandro Berlin3Meredith E. Giuliani4Monika Krzyzanowska5Tina J. Papadakos6Naa Kwarley (Linda) Quartey7Diana Samoil8Janet K. Papadakos9Cancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, CanadaBiostatistics Department, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2C1, CanadaBiostatistics Department, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2C1, CanadaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1P5, CanadaCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, CanadaDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2C1, CanadaCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, CanadaCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, CanadaCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, CanadaCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, CanadaBackground: The novel coronavirus that has triggered the present COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, resulting in widespread morbidity and mortality. Patients with cancer remain one of the most vulnerable subsets of the population to the disease. This study examined the effects of the pandemic on cancer patients’ treatment, psychology, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Methods: A survey was emailed to 9861 patients at a cancer centre in Toronto, Canada. Descriptive results were summarized. Qualitative feedback was coded and summarized. Regression modelling was used to explore factors associated with patient psychological well-being, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results: A total of 1760 surveys were completed, with a response rate of 17.8%. Most participants did not experience any pandemic-related treatment delays, and vaccination rates were high. Participants who identified themselves as non-white (OR 3.30, CI: 1.30–5.30; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001), and those who referred to journal articles for information (<i>p</i> = 0.002) reported higher psychological impact scores. There were no significant predictors of whether participants would use personal protective equipment when leaving their homes or whether they would go to crowded places. Discussion: This study provides another snapshot of cancer patients perceptions and needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/29/11/701COVID-19coronaviruscancerhealth literacyvaccinationknowledge
spellingShingle Mohamed A. Ugas
Lisa Avery
Yanning Wang
Alejandro Berlin
Meredith E. Giuliani
Monika Krzyzanowska
Tina J. Papadakos
Naa Kwarley (Linda) Quartey
Diana Samoil
Janet K. Papadakos
COVID-19 and Cancer Patients in the Second Year of the Pandemic: Investigating Treatment Impact, Information Sources, and COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
Current Oncology
COVID-19
coronavirus
cancer
health literacy
vaccination
knowledge
title COVID-19 and Cancer Patients in the Second Year of the Pandemic: Investigating Treatment Impact, Information Sources, and COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
title_full COVID-19 and Cancer Patients in the Second Year of the Pandemic: Investigating Treatment Impact, Information Sources, and COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
title_fullStr COVID-19 and Cancer Patients in the Second Year of the Pandemic: Investigating Treatment Impact, Information Sources, and COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19 and Cancer Patients in the Second Year of the Pandemic: Investigating Treatment Impact, Information Sources, and COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
title_short COVID-19 and Cancer Patients in the Second Year of the Pandemic: Investigating Treatment Impact, Information Sources, and COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
title_sort covid 19 and cancer patients in the second year of the pandemic investigating treatment impact information sources and covid 19 related knowledge attitudes and practices
topic COVID-19
coronavirus
cancer
health literacy
vaccination
knowledge
url https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/29/11/701
work_keys_str_mv AT mohamedaugas covid19andcancerpatientsinthesecondyearofthepandemicinvestigatingtreatmentimpactinformationsourcesandcovid19relatedknowledgeattitudesandpractices
AT lisaavery covid19andcancerpatientsinthesecondyearofthepandemicinvestigatingtreatmentimpactinformationsourcesandcovid19relatedknowledgeattitudesandpractices
AT yanningwang covid19andcancerpatientsinthesecondyearofthepandemicinvestigatingtreatmentimpactinformationsourcesandcovid19relatedknowledgeattitudesandpractices
AT alejandroberlin covid19andcancerpatientsinthesecondyearofthepandemicinvestigatingtreatmentimpactinformationsourcesandcovid19relatedknowledgeattitudesandpractices
AT meredithegiuliani covid19andcancerpatientsinthesecondyearofthepandemicinvestigatingtreatmentimpactinformationsourcesandcovid19relatedknowledgeattitudesandpractices
AT monikakrzyzanowska covid19andcancerpatientsinthesecondyearofthepandemicinvestigatingtreatmentimpactinformationsourcesandcovid19relatedknowledgeattitudesandpractices
AT tinajpapadakos covid19andcancerpatientsinthesecondyearofthepandemicinvestigatingtreatmentimpactinformationsourcesandcovid19relatedknowledgeattitudesandpractices
AT naakwarleylindaquartey covid19andcancerpatientsinthesecondyearofthepandemicinvestigatingtreatmentimpactinformationsourcesandcovid19relatedknowledgeattitudesandpractices
AT dianasamoil covid19andcancerpatientsinthesecondyearofthepandemicinvestigatingtreatmentimpactinformationsourcesandcovid19relatedknowledgeattitudesandpractices
AT janetkpapadakos covid19andcancerpatientsinthesecondyearofthepandemicinvestigatingtreatmentimpactinformationsourcesandcovid19relatedknowledgeattitudesandpractices