FEAR AFFECTING CANCER FOLLOW-UP IN THE COVID TIMES: A SURVEY STUDY FROM TERTIARY CANCER CENTER IN EASTERN INDIA

2021 ◽  
pp. 40-42
Author(s):  
Kanika Jain ◽  
Priyanka Singh ◽  
Arun Verma ◽  
Ranjit Mandalc
Keyword(s):  
Virus Infection ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Eastern India ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
Fear And Anxiety ◽  
Tertiary Cancer Center

BACKGROUND: The highly infectious COVID-19 disease was declared as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization in February 2020. The lockdown situation implemented in India has posed a great challenge for both oncologic health care providers and cancer survivors alike. Cancer patients due for follow-up visits have not been able to attend the hospitals due to the lockdown situation, moreover, most hospital resources have been diverted towards managing COVID patients. This could have increased fear and anxiety among them regarding the impact of COVID-19 on their pre-existing cancertreated status. The present study aims to assess the psychological impact the disease had on women cancer patients registered in a tertiary cancer center in Eastern India, due for follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study included 80 patients who had completed treatment for various gynecologic malignancies at a tertiary cancer center in eastern India. We used the fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 among the gynecological cancer patients attending or due for follow up at the hospital. The patients were interviewed telephonically and asked to complete the questionnaire voluntarily. Data collection was done using Microsoft Excel and statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 20. RESULTS: 78 percent of the patients were afraid of contracting COVID-19 on coming out of their house, higher number of poorly educated patients had fear of the corona virus infection, higher number of poorly educated patients had fear of the corona virus infection. 51 percent patients were 'very fearful' of the corona infection and the most common cause of fear was of 'losing life due to corona virus'. The telephonic conversation by a doctor was reassuring for 86 percent of the patients. CONCLUSION: The corona virus pandemic has instilled fear and anxiety among the patients of gynaecological cancer and alternatives like telemedicine need to studied to render follow-up care by reducing number of visits to the healthcare facility.

The outcome of outpatient palliative care service at Yonsei Cancer Center, a tertiary cancer center in Korea.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 131-131
Author(s):  
Si Won Lee ◽  
Hye Jin Choi
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Group Performance ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Palliative Care Service ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Anticancer Treatment ◽  
Tertiary Cancer Center

131 Background: The importance of palliative care in cancer patients continues to be emphasized and studies are proving its importance. Several studies proved the improvement of quality of life in advanced cancer patients. The efficacy of symptom control based on outpatient palliative care service has not yet been reported in Korea. The objective of this study is to review the outcome of outpatient palliative care service at Yonsei Cancer Center, a tertiary cancer center in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 155 cancer patients who used outpatient clinic at Yonsei Cancer Center in Korea between April 2014 and December 2014. Symptom severity was measured by modified Korean version of Edmonton Symptom Assessment System. Twelve symptoms were assessed: pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, dyspnea, sleep disorder, anorexia, constipation, wellbeing, financial distress. Higher score means worse symptom. ESAS scores at baseline and follow-up assessments were analyzed. Results: The 155 patients had following characteristics: female 52.3%, median age 65 years (range 58-75), Hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancer and lung cancer patients accounted for the largest portion (n = 37, 23.9%; n = 36, 23.2% respectively). Most patients were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 1 (n = 28, 18.1%) or 2 (n = 24, 15.5%). Ninety-two (59.4%) patients were referred to the palliative care team after anti-cancer treatments were all finished. Overall the symptoms did not change significantly from baseline to 2 consecutive follow up assessment except anorexia ( p value = 0.0195). Patients who were on active anticancer treatment had tendency of higher ESAS score than those finished with the anticancer treatment. However, all symptoms except nausea were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Most patients in this study did not have severe symptom scores that would show the differences of the symptom changes. Nevertheless, although not statistically significant, we found that patients on active anticancer treatment had higher symptom burden than those who were finished with the anticancer treatment. More meticulous symptom management is necessary to improve the symptom control.

scholarly journals Is fear of COVID-19 influencing cancer patients to report for follow-up? experience from a tertiary care oncology center in eastern India

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 4659
Author(s):  
Chandrima Ray ◽  
Priyanka Singh ◽  
Ranajit Mandal
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Gynecological Cancer ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Eastern India ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to the implementation of lockdown in India in March, 2020 which has posed a great challenge for both oncologic health care providers and cancer survivors alike as cancer patients have been unable to report for follow-up visits due to the same. The present study aims to assess the psychological impact of COVID -19 on female cancer patients undergoing treatment in a tertiary care oncology centre in Eastern India.Methods: The present study is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted on 80 female patients who were undergoing treatment for various gynecologic malignancies at a tertiary care oncology cancer centre in Eastern India. Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S) was used to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 among the study population. Telephonic interviews were also conducted to collect data. Data was analysed using Microsoft excel and Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.Results: Seventy-eight percent of the patients were afraid of contracting COVID-19 on coming out of their house, higher number of poorly educated patients had fear of the COVID-19 infection. Fifty-one percent patients were ‘very fearful’ of the COVID-19 infection and the most common cause of fear was of ‘losing life due to corona virus’. Eighty-six percent of the patients found talking to the doctor telephonically reassuring.Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has instilled fear and anxiety among the patients of gynecological cancer preventing them to report for follow-up. Alternative strategies need to explored to render effective follow-up care to oncology patients.

scholarly journals Changes in fatigue, barriers, and predictors towards physical activity in advanced cancer patients over a period of 12 months—a comparative study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Frikkel ◽  
M. Beckmann ◽  
N. De Lazzari ◽  
M. Götte ◽  
S. Kasper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Comprehensive Cancer Center ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Psychological Conditions ◽  
Patient Reported

Abstract Purpose Physical activity (PA) is recommended to improve advanced cancer patients’ (ACP) physical functioning, fatigue, and quality of life. Yet, little is known about ACPs’ attitude towards PA and its influence on fatigue and depressiveness over a longer period. This prospective, non-interventional cohort study examined ACPs’ fatigue, depression, motivation, and barriers towards PA before and after 12 months of treatment among ACP Methods Outpatients with incurable cancer receiving treatment at a German Comprehensive Cancer Center reporting moderate/severe weakness/tiredness during self-assessment via MIDOS II were enrolled. Fatigue (FACT-F), depression (PHQ-8), cancer-related parameters, self-assessed PA behavior, motivation for and barriers against PA were evaluated (T0). Follow-up data was acquired after 12 months (T1) using the same questionnaire. Results At follow-up, fatigue (p=0.017) and depressiveness (p=0.015) had increased in clinical relevant extent. Physically active ACP did not show significant progress of FACT-F (p=0.836) or PHQ-8 (p=0.799). Patient-reported barriers towards PA remained stable. Logistic regression analyses identified motivation as a positive predictor for PA at both time points (T0, β=2.152, p=0.017; T1, β =2.264, p=0.009). Clinically relevant depression was a negative predictor for PA at T0 and T1 (T0, β=−3.187, p=0.044; T1, β=−3.521, p=0.041). Conclusion Our findings emphasize the importance of psychological conditions in physical activity behavior of ACP. Since psychological conditions seem to worsen over time, early integration of treatment is necessary. By combining therapy approaches of cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise in interdisciplinary care programs, the two treatment options might reinforce each other and sustainably improve ACPs’ fatigue, physical functioning, and QoL. Trial registration German Register of Clinical Trials, DRKS00012514, registration date: 30.05.2017

scholarly journals Utility of telemedicine in COVID-19 pandemic: our experience at a tertiary cancer center in North East India

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 4027
Author(s):  
Ashok Kumar Das ◽  
Sumanjit S. Boro ◽  
Anupam Das ◽  
Partha Pratim Medhi ◽  
Kaberi Kakati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Ongoing Treatment ◽  
North East ◽  
Phone Calls

Background: Telemedicine is a very useful tool of communication between the doctor and the patient. The aim of this study was to find out the utility of telemedicine during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic in North East India.Methods: It is a cross sectional study among the cancer patients at our center on follow up or ongoing treatment and analysis of all the data acquired from telephonic conversation with our patients from 30th March, 2020 to 3rd May, 2020. Have contacted 4181 patients during this period over phone. All phone calls were done by respective department doctors.Results: From the demographic data, we get that 35.4% of patients were at good physical condition, 3.5% with poor general condition, 11.6% patients having ongoing treatment in our institute, 21.1% patients expired, 0.9% patients have nonmalignant diagnosis, 1.4% patients left the institute due to various reasons. Analyzed this data with brain storming sessions amongst the COVID-19 task force doctors and tried to find out solutions of each problem.Conclusions: Telemedicine cannot replace conventional method of in person treatment, but it proved to be a useful tool during the COVID-19 pandemic for patient follow up and treatment of cancer patients.

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