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Multicenter Study
. 2022 Feb;191(3):553-564.
doi: 10.1007/s10549-021-06458-3. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived access to health care and preferences for health care provision in individuals (being) treated for breast cancer

Dieuwke R Mink van der Molen  1 , Claudia A Bargon  2   3 , Marilot C T Batenburg  2 , Lilianne E van Stam  2 , Iris E van Dam  4 , Inge O Baas  5 , Miranda F Ernst  6 , Wiesje Maarse  7 , Maartje Sier  8 , Ernst J P Schoenmaeckers  9 , Thijs van Dalen  10 , Rhodé M Bijlsma  5 , Annemiek Doeksen  3 , Femke van der Leij  4 , Danny A Young-Afat  11 , Helena M Verkooijen  12   13 ; on behalf of UMBRELLA study group
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived access to health care and preferences for health care provision in individuals (being) treated for breast cancer

Dieuwke R Mink van der Molen et al. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate perceived access to health care and preferences for health care provision among patients (being) treated for breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Longitudinal study within the prospective, multicenter UMBRELLA cohort of patients (being) treated for breast cancer. All cohort participants enrolled in UMBRELLA between October 2013 and November 2020 were sent a COVID-19-specific survey during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e., April 2020 and November 2020, respectively.

Results: In total, 1106 (69.3%) and 822 (50.9%) cohort participants completed the survey in the first and second wave, respectively. The proportion of patients experiencing that their treatment or follow-up care was affected due to COVID-19 decreased from 28.4% (n = 198) in April 2020 to 14.8% (n = 103) in November 2020. Throughout the pandemic, one or more hospital consultations were postponed in 10.0% (n = 82) of all patients and changed into a teleconsultation in 23.1% (n = 190). The proportion of patients who experienced a higher threshold to contact their general practitioner due to COVID-19 decreased from 29.9% (n = 204) in the first wave to 20.8% (n = 145) in the second wave. In-person consultations remained most preferred in 35.2% (n = 289) of all patients. Nearly half of all patients (48.3%, n = 396) indicated that telehealth would be a useful alternative for in-person consultations in future.

Conclusion: Perceived access to health care has improved substantially throughout the pandemic. Digital care is well received by patients (being) treated for breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer; COVID-19; Corona virus; Pandemic; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of breast cancer patients in the UMBRELLA cohort receiving the COVID-19-specific survey during the first and the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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