Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jan 31;11(1):e041070.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041070.

Managing cancer in context of pandemic: a qualitative study to explore the emotional and behavioural responses of patients with cancer and their caregivers to COVID-19

Jace Ming Xuan Chia  1 , Zack Zhong Sheng Goh  1 , Zi Yang Chua  1 , Kennedy Yao Yi Ng  2 , Diana Ishak  2 , Si Ming Fung  2 , Joanne Yuen Yie Ngeow  3   2 , Konstadina Griva  3
Affiliations

Managing cancer in context of pandemic: a qualitative study to explore the emotional and behavioural responses of patients with cancer and their caregivers to COVID-19

Jace Ming Xuan Chia et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objectives: Having to access life-sustaining treatment during the emerging COVID-19 outbreak has placed patients with cancer at an especially vulnerable position notwithstanding their immunocompromised condition. The present study aimed to elucidate cancer patients' and their caregivers' experiences during this outbreak.

Design: Face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted.

Setting: A tertiary cancer care facility.

Participants: 16 patients with cancer and 14 caregivers. Inclusions criteria were: (A) diagnosed with cancer, (B) receiving active treatment or follow-ups, (C) aged 21 years and above and (D) fluent in English or Mandarin.

Results: Thematic analysis was conducted. Five themes were identified: heightened sense of threat, impact on healthcare experience, responsibility falls on oneself, striving for normalcy and sense of safety and trust. Heightened threat of COVID-19 was more pronounced in patients and linked to vulnerability and fear, uncertainty and actions of socially irresponsible others. Dominant in their healthcare experience was prioritising cancer and treatment amidst heightened threat and anticipatory worry about treatment disruptions. Both noted on the importance of taking responsibility for one's health, with caregivers reporting a reinforced sense of duty towards patients. They strived to maintain normalcy by viewing COVID-19 as beyond personal control, downplaying and living life as usual. Their resolve was supported by a sense of safety from the actions of authorities, hospitals and trust towards healthcare providers.

Conclusions: Cancer intensifies threat and the emotional impact of COVID-19 and may trigger specific concerns related to treatment. Psychoeducation interventions led by healthcare providers over digital platforms could help address cancer-specific concerns and support patients and caregivers during the pandemic.

Keywords: infectious diseases; oncology; qualitative research.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Thematic schema.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Lu T-H, Chou Y-J, Liou C-S. Impact of SARS on healthcare utilization by disease categories: implications for delivery of healthcare services. Health Policy 2007;83:375–81. 10.1016/j.healthpol.2007.03.001 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Teasdale E, Yardley L. Understanding responses to government health recommendations: public perceptions of government advice for managing the H1N1 (swine flu) influenza pandemic. Patient Educ Couns 2011;85:413–8. 10.1016/j.pec.2010.12.026 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Wong ELY, Wong SYS, Lee N, et al. . Healthcare workers' duty concerns of working in the isolation ward during the novel H1N1 pandemic. J Clin Nurs 2012;21:1466–75. 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03783.x - DOI - PubMed
    1. Cava MA, Fay KE, Beanlands HJ, et al. . Risk perception and compliance with quarantine during the SARS outbreak. J Nurs Scholarsh 2005;37:343–7. 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2005.00059.x - DOI - PubMed
    1. Tiwari A, Chan S, Wong A, et al. . Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong: patients' experiences. Nurs Outlook 2003;51:212–9. 10.1016/j.outlook.2003.07.002 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources