(Ex-)breast cancer patients with (pre-existing) symptoms of anxiety and/or depression experience higher barriers to contact health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To identify factors associated with (perceived) access to health care among (ex-)breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Cross-sectional study within a large prospective, multicenter cohort of (ex-)breast cancer patients, i.e., UMBRELLA. All participants enrolled in the UMBRELLA cohort between October 2013 and April 2020 were sent a COVID-19-specific survey, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire.

Results

In total, 1051 (66.0%) participants completed the survey. During COVID-19, 284 (27.0%) participants reported clinically relevant increased levels of anxiety and/or depression, i.e., total HADS score ≥ 12. Participants with anxiety and/or depression reported statistically significant higher barriers to con

SUBMITTER: Mink van der Molen DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7889408 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature