ASO Author Reflections: How We Convey Empathy, Address Uncertainty, and Share Serious News: Challenges to Remote Surgical Care

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic laid bare susceptibilities in our healthcare system, halting the routine provision of primary and preventative services, taxing personal protective equipment supply chains, and highlighting disparities in access to care. Responding to the surge of acutely ill and potentially infectious patients forced hospitals to triage and delay care, including surgical cancer care. Although the significance of clinical delays to cancer surgery will take years to fully appreciate, we wanted to understand the individual experience of patients whose surgeries were delayed. We interviewed patients with early-and intermediate-stage breast and prostate cancers, who received the unexpected news of surgery cancellation in early May via phone calls in the midst of a case surge in Boston, MA. We found that, while many patients accepted these delays due to the unprecedented nature of a global pandemic, cancer-and COVID-related distress was prevalent.