COVID-19 and cancer: How outpatients (pts) and their caregivers (CGs) face to the pandemic-A survey from the midst of the Italian outbreak

Cona, M. S.; Dalu, D.; Rulli, E.; Galli, F.; Rota, S.; Ferrario, S.; Tosca, N.; Gambaro, A.; Filipazzi, V.; Fasola, C.; Oldani, S.; Chizzoniti, D.; Tricella, C.; Stocchetti, B. L.; La Verde, N. M.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic led to a reorganization of Health Care System for cancer pts, also because of the application of containment measures. The aim of our study was to investigate the emotional discomfort of pts and their CGs who needed to access the day-hospital to receive treatment during pandemic. Methods: This is a single-institution, prospective, cross-sectional study. From 5th May to 5thJune 2020 a survey was conducted at a Department of Oncology in the midst of the Italian outbreak. We compared the points of view of both the 'players' through 2 different multiple-choice questionnaires enquiring demographic characteristics, changes in emotional status, interpersonal relationships with health professionals (HCPs) and self-perception of treatment outcomes. Results: 625 pts and 254 CGs were enrolled. Female were prevalent (pts:65%, CGs:56%). Pts were generally older than CGs (pts:70% > 60 y, CGs:50.4% 41-60 y;p < 0.001). 50.5% pts had a low education level (EL) while 67.5% CGs had a higher degree. About half of pts (52.8%) reached the hospital with their own CG who lived together in the 58.3% of cases. 52.5% of pts felt more vulnerable to COVID-19 compared to CGs. Differently, CGs did not feel more exposed to infection, although they were involved in taking care or lived together with pts. The EL influenced the risk contagion perception: people with a lower EL were less worried about being infected with SARS-CoV-2. Regardless of the perceived contagion risk, study participants considered the containment measures a valid support to avoid the spread of infection (pts:92%, CGs:89%;p = 0.163) without an excessive loss of time (pts:78%, CGs:88.6%;p = 0.003). A personal emotional change caused by waiting and performing visits/treatments alone was reported more by CGs (66%) than by pts (32.7%;p < 0.001). Specifically, CGs had greater anxiety (58.8%) and fear of not properly managing pts at home (19.8%). The majority of pts (73%) and CGs (62%) thought that the pandemic didn't influence treatment outcomes. The relationship with HCPs was not negatively affected for both pts (79.6%) and CGs (95%), but about a quarter of pts (25%) and CGs (29%) thought that the attention of HCPs was more focused on COVID-19 than on cancer treatment. Conclusions: The majority of pts felt at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and therefore approved the application of safety standards to help them feel more protected. Good relationships with HCPs contributed to receive treatments without experiencing additional distress. For CGs the main troubles are limitations which don't allow to fully share the pts' care route and the perceive an impairment in HCPs relationship. Starting from these data, we can better understand the current psychological distress of pts and their families in order to develop potential strategies to support them in this strenuous period of crisis.