scholarly journals (Ex-)breast cancer patients with (pre-existing) symptoms of anxiety and/or depression experience higher barriers to contact health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Author(s):  
Dieuwke R. Mink van der Molen ◽  
◽  
Claudia A. Bargon ◽  
Marilot C. T. Batenburg ◽  
Roxanne Gal ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To identify factors associated with (perceived) access to health care among (ex-)breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Cross-sectional study within a large prospective, multicenter cohort of (ex-)breast cancer patients, i.e., UMBRELLA. All participants enrolled in the UMBRELLA cohort between October 2013 and April 2020 were sent a COVID-19-specific survey, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. Results In total, 1051 (66.0%) participants completed the survey. During COVID-19, 284 (27.0%) participants reported clinically relevant increased levels of anxiety and/or depression, i.e., total HADS score ≥ 12. Participants with anxiety and/or depression reported statistically significant higher barriers to contact their general practitioner (47.5% vs. 25.0%, resp.) and breast cancer physicians (26.8% vs. 11.2%, resp.) compared to participants without these symptoms. In addition, a higher proportion of participants with anxiety and/or depression reported that their current treatment or (after)care was affected by COVID-19 compared to those without these symptoms (32.7% vs. 20.5%, resp.). Factors independently associated with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression during COVID-19 were pre-existent anxiety (OR 6.1, 95% CI 4.1–9.2) or depression (OR 6.0, 95% CI 3.5–10.2). Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, (ex-)breast cancer patients with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression experience higher barriers to contact health care providers. Also, they more often report that their health care was affected by COVID-19. Risk factors for anxiety and/or depression during COVID-19 are pre-existent symptoms of anxiety or depression. Extra attention—including mental health support—is needed for this group.

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Alvita Brilliana R. Arafah ◽  
Hari Basuki Notobroto

Breast cancer is cancer with the number of new cases and deaths highest in Indonesia. According to the Data Center and Information Ministry of a health Indonesia in the year 2013, the number of new cases of breast cancer of 819 and the number of deaths amounted to 217. In general, breast cancer known after stepping on an advanced stage. So the methods of early detection of breast cancer are focused on the detection of early stage tumors that are usually small with self-breast examination (SADARI). The purpose of this research is to predict the factors related to the behavior of self-breast examination (SADARI) the housewives aged 40–50 years. This research is an observational study with cross sectional approach. Sample research totaling 100 people  housewife in Kelurahan Sidotopo Wetan Kenjeran Subdistrict Surabaya. The measurement was done by providing a questionnaire to obtain information about the research variables. Variable independent research is k nowledge, attitudes, information accessibility, support health providers and descent with breast cancer. The results of this research showed the variables that are associated with the  SADARI behavior of the housewifes is attitude (p = 0.000), accessibility of information (p = 0.000), and health care providers support (p = 0.010). The majority of housewives in Kelurahan Sidotopo Wetan Kenjeran Sub-district Surabaya showed a good attitude and support toward SADARI. In the area surrounding the residence h ousewife get access information easily. There are no support for doing SADARI from health care providers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Asfaw Erku

Background.Today, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is being routinely practiced by cancer patients worldwide. This study aimed at examining the prevalence of CAM use in patients with cancer and comparing the quality of life (QoL) in CAM users and nonusers.Methods.A cross-sectional study was employed on 195 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at Gondar University Referral Hospital (GURH) chemotherapy center. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used and the collected data were analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0 for Windows.Results.154 (79%) patients were found to be users of CAM. Educational status, average monthly income, disease stage, and comorbidity were strong predictors of use of CAM. The most commonly utilized types of CAM were traditional herbal based medicine (72.1%) and only 20.8% of patients discuss with their doctors CAM use. No significant difference was found in QoL between CAM users and nonusers except in financial difficulties (p=0.020).Conclusions.This study revealed a high rate of CAM use with very low disclosure rate to their health care providers. Health care providers should be open to discuss the use of CAM with their patients as it will lead to better health outcome.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sefonias Getachew ◽  
Aragaw Tesfaw ◽  
Mirgissa Kaba ◽  
Andreas Wienke ◽  
Lesley Taylor ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Early diagnosis is a key determinant of breast cancer prognosis and survival. More than half of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage in Ethiopia, and the barriers to early diagnosis in this country are not well understood. We aimed to identify the perceived barriers to early diagnosis of breast cancer from the perspective of patients and health care providers in south and southwestern Ethiopia. Methods A qualitative study was conducted from March to April 2018 using in-depth interviews of breast cancer patients and breast cancer health care providers from six public hospitals located in urban and rural areas of south and southwestern Ethiopia. All participants proved verbal consent before participating. A thematic analysis was performed using Open Code 4.02. Results Twelve breast cancer patients and thirteen health care providers were included in the study. Patient and health-system related barriers to early diagnosis of breast cancer were identified. Patient-related barriers were lack of knowledge and awareness of breast cancer, belief in traditional medicine and religious practices for treatment, and lack of social and financial support to seek care at a medical facility. Health-system related barriers were misdiagnosis of breast cancer, long distance to referral facilities, high cost of diagnostic services, long waiting time for diagnostic tests, and lack of screening and diagnostic tests in local facilities. Conclusions Early diagnosis of breast cancer is affected by multiple barriers in south and southwestern Ethiopia. Awareness campaigns and education about the disease, prevention, and early detection are needed to increase early diagnosis of breast cancer. Opportunities exist to improve early diagnosis and timely treatment in rural areas.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sefonias Getachew ◽  
Aragaw Tesfaw ◽  
Mirgissa Kaba ◽  
Andreas Wienke ◽  
Lesley Taylor ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Early diagnosis is a key determinant of breast cancer prognosis and survival. More than half of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage in Ethiopia, and the barriers to early diagnosis in this country are not well understood. We aimed to identify the perceived barriers to early diagnosis of breast cancer from the perspective of patients and health care providers in south and southwestern Ethiopia. Methods A qualitative study was conducted from March to April 2018 using in-depth interviews of breast cancer patients and breast cancer health care providers from six public hospitals located in urban and rural areas of south and southwestern Ethiopia. All participants proved verbal consent before participating. A thematic analysis was performed using Open Code 4.02. Results Twelve breast cancer patients and thirteen health care providers were included in the study. Patient and health-system related barriers to early diagnosis of breast cancer were identified. Patient-related barriers were lack of knowledge and awareness of breast cancer, belief in traditional medicine and religious practices for treatment, and lack of social and financial support to seek care at a medical facility. Health-system related barriers were misdiagnosis of breast cancer, long distance to referral facilities, high cost of diagnostic services, long waiting time for diagnostic tests, and lack of screening and diagnostic tests in local facilities. Conclusions Early diagnosis of breast cancer is affected by multiple barriers in south and southwestern Ethiopia. Awareness campaigns and education about the disease, prevention, and early detection are needed to increase early diagnosis of breast cancer. Opportunities exist to improve early diagnosis and timely treatment in rural areas.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yesol Yang ◽  
Yufen Lin ◽  
Grace Sikapokoo ◽  
Se Hee Min ◽  
Nicole Caviness-Ashe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Problems in affective and cognitive functioning are among the most common concurrent symptoms that breast cancer patients report. Social relationships may provide some explanations of the clinical variability in affective-cognitive symptoms. Evidence suggests that social relationships (functional and structural aspects) can be associated with patients’ affective-cognitive symptoms; however, such an association has not been well studied in the context of breast cancer. The purpose of this scoping review was to address the following question: What social relationships are associated with affective-cognitive symptoms of women with breast cancer? This scoping review used the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and PRISMA-Sc. Extracted data included research aims, design, sample, type and measures of social relationships (functional and structural), and the association between social relationships and affective-cognitive symptoms. Results: Of sixty-five included studies, none of them focused on cognitive symptoms of breast cancer patients; thus, in this review, we focused on only the affective symptoms of breast cancer patients and their association with patients’ both aspects of social relationships. Conclusion: Our findings reveal that positive social relationships benefit in mitigating affective symptoms of women with breast cancer. Thus, health care providers need to educate patients about the importance of building solid social relationships and encourage them to participate in a supportive network of friends and family members.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 8s-8s
Author(s):  
C. Asoogo ◽  
M. Hoyte-Williams ◽  
B. Dwobeng ◽  
D. Sam ◽  
E. Amankwa-Frimpong

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among women in Ghana. About 50% of cases seen at the oncology directorate are breast cancer-related, and 85% of these cases present in advanced stage with very poor prognosis and high mortality. Objectives: To explore and describe the experiences of patients diagnosed and living with metastatic breast cancer. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study design was used to involved breast cancer patients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital who comes from various social and ethnic groups as well as geographically distinct areas from the vast territory of the Ashanti region and the Northern part of Ghana. Convenient sampling was used to select 120 participants for the study using semistructured questionnaire. Data of their social and demographic background and experiences living with metastatic breast cancer were obtained after seeking informed consent. Results: The study revealed that 12% of participants diagnosed and living with metastatic breast cancer experience loneliness and devastated, 22% experience fear and anxiety, while 35% experience stigma from both family and the society. Moreover, feeling of anger and hopelessness also account for 15%, 11% experience financial changes, while 5% of participants experience both physical and emotional pain with their diagnosis and treatment. Recommendations were made for policy makers, health care professionals, and other researchers. These include the need for intensified metastatic breast cancer awareness campaigns, educating health care providers on the need for professional counseling on metastatic breast cancer and the need to organized support groups, so that patients could contact each other. Emphasis should be placed on training of nurses to deal with issues relating to metastatic breast cancer. Conclusion: Generally, fear and anxiety, stigma, feeling of loneliness, devastated, anger and hopelessness, emotional and physical pain and financial changes are the variables that explain the experiences of women diagnosed and living with metastatic breast cancer. Some support groups has shown an improvement, therefore efforts to raise public awareness of metastatic breast cancer should be continued. The current study became imperative to fill this identified gap and improve health interventions and health outcomes for metastatic breast cancer patients in future.


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