COVID-19 precautionary behavior among Israeli breast cancer patients

Abstract

Objective Cumulative knowledge indicates that cancer patients, among them breast cancer patients, are more susceptible to COVID-19 than individuals without cancer. Therefore, these patients need to take additional precautions against the COVID-19 outbreak. This study aimed to examine factors associated with precautionary behavior among Israeli breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 151 women with breast cancer. Participants completed measures of knowledge about COVID-19, perceived threat, sense of mastery, social support, precautionary behavior, and socio-demographic questionnaires. A multivariate regression model was calculated with precautionary behavior as the dependent variable. Results The mean of precautionary behavior score was relatively high. Participants perceived their health as relatively good, had relatively high knowledge about COVID-19, and moderate perceived threat. Sense of mastery was relatively moderate and perceived social support was relatively high. In the multivariate regression analysis, after controlling for the background variables, knowledge about COVID-19 (F(2,149) = 8.68, p < 0.001; beta = 0.36) was significantly associated with precautionary behavior. This variable explained 15.4% of the precautionary behavior variance. Conclusion Findings suggest that in order to enhance precautionary behavior among women with breast cancer during a pandemic outbreak, it is recommended to pay attention their knowledge about the virus.

The Perceived Support Received by Women with Breast Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

“…In particular, COVID-19 was an important psychosocial stressor for women with breast cancer [10]. This is because breast cancer mortality can be exacerbated by COVID-19, and women with breast cancer are more susceptible to and may therefore be more cautious of COVID-19 [11]. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic has thwarted the provision of effective and supportive care for women with breast cancer, who are further at risk of infection due to immunosuppressive malignancy [12].…”

“…The results of one study conducted in Turkey reported that women who survived breast cancer were left with problems with their physical, emotional, cognitive and social functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic [14]. Israeli women with breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic had a good understanding of health, a high level of knowledge about COVID-19, and a moderately perceived threat of it [11]. Whereas a study in India found that women with breast cancer experienced psychological distress in response to the disease by having anxiety, depression, anger, and guilt [3].…”

Effect of social support on illness perception in patients with atrial fibrillation during “Blanking Period”: Mediating role of sense of mastery

“…Sense of mastery, defined as a person's confidence in their ability to impact the course and consequences of life events (Infurna & Infurna, 2017 ), was proven to be a crucial internal protective psychological resource after patients perceived threats (Shinan‐Altman & Levkovich, 2021 ). According to the Attribution Theory (Martinko & Mackey, 2019 ), the premise for effectively solving an issue is to identify the influencing elements, which are frequently split into internal and external causes.…”