Patient perspectives on cancer care during COVID-19: A qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges to cancer-related care as health systems balanced competing risks of timely delivery of care and minimizing exposure to infection in a high-risk, immunocompromised patient population. This study aimed to better understand how pandemic-related factors affected the patient experience of cancer care during this time.

Methods

We conducted fifteen semi-structured interviews with adults from rural counties in Maryland who were diagnosed with and/or actively treated for cancer at the TidalHealth healthcare network between January 2020 and October 2022.

Results

Interviews from fifteen participants were analyzed. Two major themes emerged including COVID Impact on Care, and COVID Impact on Mental Health. Subthemes under COVI

SUBMITTER: Chen KY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11238955 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature