COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Patients With Cancer - a Danish Survey
Condition: Cancer
MeSH terms: COVID-19
Study type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Summary: 
      The outbreak of coronavirus was categorized as a global pandemic in March 2020. The Danish
      government recommends social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Long-term social
      distancing and fear of disease can lead to anxiety, depression and the feeling of loneliness.
      All these factors might affect the quality of life (QoL).

      The aim of this study is to investigate the overall QoL for patients with cancer during the
      COVID-19 pandemic with special focus on emotional functioning.
    

Detailed description: 
      Since the detection of the novel coronavirus also called COVID-19 in December 2019 it has
      affected many people worldwide. The outbreak of coronavirus was categorized as a global
      pandemic in March 2020.

      The focus of the Danish health care system is on patients infected with COVID-19. In order to
      limit the spread of this disease, the Danish government recommends social distancing during
      the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, long-term social distancing and fear of disease can
      lead to anxiety, depression and the feeling of loneliness. All these factors might affect the
      quality of life (QoL). The fear of the COVID-19 among the Danish population is thought to be
      high since cancer referrals to the departments have decreased markedly during the pandemic -
      probably because people avoid appointments at the hospital or general practitioner.

      A population that may be seriously impacted by the COVID-19 disease is the group of patients
      with cancer. Patients with cancer are in a high risk of serious illness of infections because
      the cancer and antineoplastic treatment often weaken the immune system. However, no reports
      are available regarding higher incidence of COVID-19 in patients with cancer. The patients
      with cancer might be practicing social distancing even more than the general population and
      the well-being for this group of patients may be even more affected by the COVID-19 disease.

      In Denmark, during the coronavirus outbreak different treatment guidelines have been
      conducted to minimize the risk of infection with the COVID-19 virus, but also the impact of
      pandemic on the cancer treatment and follow-up program. Also European recommendations have
      been conducted to help clinicians deal with various aspects of cancer care. Immunotherapy for
      patients with cancer can be changed from a 3 week schedule to 6 week schedule and many
      palliative radiation treatments can be changed from a schedule of 10 fractions to 5
      fractions. Furthermore it is recommended by the European societies of medical oncology and
      radiation oncology to avoid hospital appointments for patients with cancer. In follow-up
      programmes outpatient clinic visits can be done over the phone or may even be postponed.

      Avoiding exposure to the COVID-19 virus can be essential for patients with cancer. The new
      pandemic situation can cause serious concerns for this group of patients. Many visits at the
      oncological outpatient clinics are being cancelled or appointments are done by phone to avoid
      as many contacts to the health system as possible. The lack of face-to-face contact to the
      staff at the Departments of Oncology might cause worries and anxiety for the patients and
      their relatives, because of the risk of less detailed information regarding side effects of
      treatment as well as cancer related symptoms. Patients may also worry that their
      antineoplastic treatment will be discontinued or changed due to reduction of visits at the
      outpatient clinics. Overall the QoL can be affected for patients with cancer. A structured
      and unified approach to COVID-19 prevention and care specific to cancer patients and cancer
      centers is highly needed. Many of the initiatives to avoid face-to-face contact during the
      COVID-19 pandemic e.g. telephonic or web-technology contacts for consultation may continue in
      the time after the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore of interest to explore the patients'
      QoL and to investigate their satisfaction with cancer treatment and follow-up during the
      COVID-19 pandemic.
    

Intervention name(s): No intervention
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Patients will be sent a survey incl. EORTC QLQ-C30
Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Patients are recruited at the Department of Oncology and the Department of Haemotology,
        Odense University Hospital, Denmark.

        Patients are either receiving cancer treatment or in follow-up for a cancer diagnosis
      
Keywords: Cancer; Quality of Life; COVID-19