Coping and unmet needs of cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Objective: During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, cancer survivors faced concerns regarding treatment disruptions and delays, as well as increased susceptibility to severe outcomes. These challenges significantly impacted cancer survivorsʼ quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive scoping review to categorize coping strategies and unmet needs, including self-care practices employed by cancer survivors during the pandemic, to provide valuable insights for survivorship care in the post-COVID era. Methods: A systematic search on PubMed and the Journal of Health Care and Society, using the keywords “COVID-19,” or “Cancer Survivors” and “Cancer Patients” in both English and Japanese, yielded 24 relevant survey studies on coping, self-care, and unmet needs among survivors. Additionally, three studies were identified through manual searching, contributing to 27 studies selected for qualitative inductive analysis. Results: Coping strategies were categorized into nine adaptive approaches, including “acceptance,” “emotional support,” and “self-care,” and six avoidance strategies, including “substance use, “distraction,” and “medical cost containment behavior. Cancer survivors demonstrated higher adherence to infection prevention measures than adults without cancer, drawing on their prior treatment experiences for self-management. However, a notable increase in long-term cannabis use was observed among survivors, linked to COVID-19 related fears and symptoms such as loss of appetite, headaches, and insomnia. Moreover, medical cost containment behavior was prevalent among adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors, particularly those with younger age, lower income, and lower education levels. Unmet needs included those for COVID-19 related information tailored for AYA and pediatric cancer survivors, improved communication with healthcare providers regarding treatment and visits, peer support networks, and economic assistance for essentials such as food and medicine. Discussion: Although cancer survivors demonstrated proactive engagement in infection prevention and self-management, this study also highlighted behaviors such as “substance use” and “medical cost containment,” suggesting potential long-term health implications. For the post-COVID era, this study recommends the providing information of palliative care through online system, targeted educational interventions focusing on coping and self-management, especially for vulnerable populations, and comprehensive support, including accessible information and online psychological interventions.
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7144826402