TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in experienced quality of oncological cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic based on patient reported outcomes – a cross-sectional study
AU - Aggerholm-Pedersen, Ninna
AU - Thorsen, Lise Bech Jellesmark
AU - Tauber, Nina Møller
AU - Danielsen, Josefine Tingdal
AU - Løppenthin, Katrine
AU - Borgquist, Signe
AU - Johansen, Christoffer
AU - Zacharie, Robert
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s).
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Aim: 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: 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: 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: A total of 2,040/5,372 patients experienced changes in their treatment plans during the pan-demic, 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 experi-encing reduced cancer care quality. Interpretation: 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.
AB - Aim: 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: 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: 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: A total of 2,040/5,372 patients experienced changes in their treatment plans during the pan-demic, 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 experi-encing reduced cancer care quality. Interpretation: 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.
KW - cancer
KW - COVID-19
KW - patient-reported outcome
KW - questionnaires
U2 - 10.2340/1651-226X.2024.40141
DO - 10.2340/1651-226X.2024.40141
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38946287
AN - SCOPUS:85197636242
SN - 0284-186X
VL - 63
SP - 518
EP - 525
JO - Acta Oncologica
JF - Acta Oncologica
ER -