COVID-19 Outbreak and Consequent Delays in Schedules of the Breast Clinic: Effects on Patients’ Breast and Emotional Symptoms

Alipour, Sadaf; Moini, Ashraf; Orouji, Marzieh; Saberi, Azin; Motamedi, Mandana; Eskandari, Amirhossein

doi:10.5152/ejbh.2020.5903

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The reduction in the number of biopsies (71%) and diagnoses (51.8%) is higher in breast cancer compared to other cancers [ 47 , 48 ]. Additionally, registered breast cancer treatment delays [ 64 , 65 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ], may be due to fear of COVID-19 infections [ 66 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ]. Disruptions to oncology services negatively impact emotional well-being, anxiety and depression experienced by breast cancer patients, which have been associated with greater emotional vulnerability and poor cognitive function [ 68 , 69 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, registered breast cancer treatment delays [ 64 , 65 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ], may be due to fear of COVID-19 infections [ 66 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ]. Disruptions to oncology services negatively impact emotional well-being, anxiety and depression experienced by breast cancer patients, which have been associated with greater emotional vulnerability and poor cognitive function [ 68 , 69 ]. Breast cancer patients from racial and ethnic minority groups already experience significantly more cancer treatment delay [ 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ], which may exacerbate COVID-19 related treatment delays and psychosocial outcomes in these groups [ 68 , 77 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Care and Health-Related Quality of Life of Non-Hispanic Black/African American, Hispanic/Latina and Non-Hispanic White Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the U.S.: A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol

Acquati

Chen

Leal

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had critical consequences for cancer care delivery, including altered treatment protocols and delayed services that may affect patients’ quality of life and long-term survival. Breast cancer patients from minoritized racial and ethnic groups already experience worse outcomes, which may have been exacerbated by treatment delays and social determinants of health (SDoH). This protocol details a mixed-methods study aimed at comparing cancer care disruption among a diverse sample of women (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black/African American, and Hispanic/Latina) and assessing how proximal, intermediate, and distal SDoH differentially contribute to care continuity and health-related quality of life. An embedded mixed-methods design will be implemented. Eligible participants will complete an online survey, followed by a semi-structured interview (with a subset of participants) to further understand factors that influence continuity of care, treatment decision-making, and self-reported engagement. The study will identify potentially modifiable factors to inform future models of care delivery and improve care transitions. These data will provide the necessary evidence to inform whether a subsequent, multilevel intervention is warranted to improve quality of care delivery in the COVID-19 aftermath. Additionally, results can be used to identify ways to leverage existing social resources to help manage and support patients’ outcomes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Care and Health-Related Quality of Life of Non-Hispanic Black/African American, Hispanic/Latina and Non-Hispanic White Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the U.S.: A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol

Acquati

Chen

Leal

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…As per the initial design of the research, participants were planned to be selected among the women attending the Breast Clinic of the hospital for screening purpose or for benign breast complaints. However, due to the restrictions created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the conversion of physical presence of patients to virtual modes of visits [13], the plans and the inclusion criteria changed relevantly. Therefore, participants were chosen among women who had attended the Breast Clinic during the last two years and had their phone numbers recorded in their les.…”

Section: Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria Sample Size Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Educating Healthy Women About Breast Cancer on Their Fear of Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Worry

Nejatisafa

Eskandari

Hosseini

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among females worldwide and prognosis depends on early diagnosis; however women seldom seek medical attention on time. Two of the important reasons for this delay are BC worry (BCW) and fear (BCF). We aimed to assess whether educating healthy women about BC could affect their BCF and BCW. Methods Participants were women above 18 years who visited the Breast Clinic who had a normal or benign breast assessment and were not suffering from any psychological disorder. They filled a survey including items of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), Lerman BCW scale and Champion BCF scale before and after the intervention. In the course of the study, 20 short educational videos about BC were sent to all of them by WhatsApp. Results The mean age of the 104 participants was 38.37 years. HADS scores showed a fairly good general psychological health of the participants before and after the intervention. The mean BCW and BCF score decreased significantly after vs. before the intervention. Conclusions Our study showed that educating healthy women about BC can effectively reduce BCF and BCW. We suggest that similar studies follow the participants in order to assess the effect on their health-seeking behaviour about BC in the long term.

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“…For example in Italy, physicians have been recruited from other areas, and nursing trainees have been graduated sooner; in China, health workers have been transferred to Wuhan from all other cities; in England, medical students have been called to help in managing the epidemic conditions [ 2 ]. In Iran, some medical centers have been dedicated to COVID-19 management [ 3 ], and all medical specialties and sub-specialties in these hospitals have been re-distributed to deal with this infectious disease. Along with these modifications, the programs and schedules of residents of many clinical specialties have also changed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also, many elective operations have been cancelled. Second, at teaching hospitals, residents have been asked to change their shifts and schedules to compensate for the deficiency of health care professionals, and provide a workforce for attending COVID-19 patients [ 3 , 5 ]. Therefore, two main issues have occurred after COVID-19: the residents have been both exposed directly to the dangers of COVID-19, and their learning opportunities have been modified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Residency training amid the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring the impact on mental health and training, a lesson from Iran

et al. 2021

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Background COVID-19 has affected the training programs and the clinical schedules of surgical wards in many countries, including Iran. Also, the continuous involvement with COVID-19 patients has caused stress in health care workers; among them, residents are on the frontlines of care delivery. Therefore, we designed a study to assess the mental effects of these circumstances, and the effects on General Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynecology residency training in the busiest surgical departments of our university. Methods Participants of this cross-sectional study were residents of General Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynecology of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and the conventional sampling method was used. We used a questionnaire consisting of 47 questions (mostly using multiple choice questions and answers on the Likert scale) about personal, familial, and demographic characteristics; training activities, and mental effects of COVID-19. Results The response rate was 63.5%. (127 filled questionnaires). Around 96% of the residents had emotional problems, 85.9% were highly stressed about contracting COVID-19, 81.3% were worried about transferring it to their families; and 78% believed that their residency training had been impaired. Conclusion Overall, our study shows the negative impact of COVID-19 on mental health and the training of residents. We propose that appropriate emotional support and suitable planning for compensation of training deficits is provided for residents.

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COVID-19 Outbreak and Consequent Delays in Schedules of the Breast Clinic: Effects on Patients’ Breast and Emotional Symptoms

Cited by 10 publications

References 9 publications

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Care and Health-Related Quality of Life of Non-Hispanic Black/African American, Hispanic/Latina and Non-Hispanic White Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the U.S.: A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Care and Health-Related Quality of Life of Non-Hispanic Black/African American, Hispanic/Latina and Non-Hispanic White Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the U.S.: A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol

Effect of Educating Healthy Women About Breast Cancer on Their Fear of Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Worry

Residency training amid the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring the impact on mental health and training, a lesson from Iran

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