A Study on Challenges to Health Care Delivery Faced by Cancer Patients in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Autor: Manasij Mitra, Maitraye Basu
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
health care delivery
medicine.medical_specialty
2019-20 coronavirus outbreak
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Cross-sectional study
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Pneumonia
Viral

India
lcsh:Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics
Health Services Accessibility
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Neoplasms
Health care
Pandemic
medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Pandemics
Original Research
Community and Home Care
expert committees
business.industry
lcsh:Public aspects of medicine
Public Health
Environmental and Occupational Health

COVID-19
Cancer
lcsh:RA1-1270
“choosing wisely”
medicine.disease
Health care delivery
Cross-Sectional Studies
Health Care Surveys
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
Family medicine
lcsh:R858-859.7
cancer patients
Coronavirus Infections
business
Delivery of Health Care
support services
Zdroj: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, Vol 11 (2020)
Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
ISSN: 2150-1327
Popis: Introduction Access to health care and care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic may be challenging for cancer patients. Several guidelines have been developed, which recommend treatment adjustments depending on the site of cancer, grade, and stage. However, few studies in India and across the globe have looked into the real challenges faced by cancer patients and assessed the effectiveness of the adopted interventions. This study was undertaken with the objective to study the challenges faced by cancer patients in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional study undertaken between May 1, 2020 and May 15, 2020. A link to a prestructured questionnaire was sent through email to 100 randomly selected cancer patients in different stages of treatment and follow-up. Data were decoded and entered in Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Slot availability for teleconsultation, network issues, deferral of radiotherapy dates and long waiting hours beyond appointment time, transportation problems from residence to hospital, restriction of visitors/attendants, deferral of surgery, deferral of tumor boards, delay and deferral of advice of the nutritionist, problems faced in extension of visa, unavailability of peer group support services and psychological counseling sessions, difficulty in maintaining precautionary measures, availability of chemotherapy medications and availability of chemotherapy slots in day care were cited as problems faced by cancer patients. Majority (91.7%) of the study respondents mentioned an increase in their anxiety levels. Conclusion As highlighted in the study, cancer patients faced challenges in cancer care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study suggests the need for larger studies on cancer patient care during a pandemic.
Databáze: OpenAIRE