Loneliness among adolescents and young adults with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.

Autor: Howden K; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada., Yan AP; Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5G1X8, Canada., Glidden C; Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada., Romanescu RG; George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada., Scott I; Department of Psychosocial Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada., Deleemans JM; Division of Oncology, Department of Psychosocial Oncology, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, AB, Canada., Chalifour K; Young Adult Cancer Canada, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada., Eaton G; Young Adult Cancer Canada, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada., Gupta AA; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.; Adolescent and Young Adult Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Care Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada., Bolton JM; Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada., Garland SN; Departments of Psychology and Oncology, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada., Mahar AL; Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.; CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, Canada., Oberoi S; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. soberoi@cancercare.mb.ca.; CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, Canada. soberoi@cancercare.mb.ca.; Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. soberoi@cancercare.mb.ca.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer [Support Care Cancer] 2022 Mar; Vol. 30 (3), pp. 2215-2224. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Oct 27.
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06628-5
Abstrakt: Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer are at an increased risk of experiencing social isolation and loneliness secondary to their cancer and its treatment. The physical distancing measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic may have further increased loneliness among this group. This study examined the prevalence of loneliness and factors associated with loneliness among AYAs with cancer during this pandemic.
Methods: We conducted a self-administered, online, cross-sectional survey of Canadian AYAs diagnosed with cancer between 15 and 39 between January and February 2021. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Factors associated with higher levels of loneliness were identified using multiple logistic regression.
Results: The analysis included 805 AYAs. The prevalence of loneliness was 52.2% [N = 419, 95% CI (confidence interval) 48.7 to 55.6%]. Individuals who were 18-25 years old [AOR (adjusted odds ratio)1.60, CI 1.03-2.47, p = 0.035], currently undergoing cancer therapy (AOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.03-2.07, p = 0.035), who self-disclosed the presence of a pre-pandemic mental health condition (AOR 2.09, 95% CI = 1.22-3.58, p = 0.007), or were not in a relationship (AOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.57-3.14, p < 0.001) were more likely to report loneliness than others. Participants that lived in rural or remote locations were less likely to experience loneliness (AOR 0.59, 95%CI 0.40-0.87, p = 0.008).
Conclusion: One in two AYAs with cancer are feeling lonely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies for developing interventions to target loneliness, particularly for those at greater risk, are necessary to improve the health and quality of life of AYAs with cancer.
(© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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