Psychological impact of COVID-19 on parents of pediatric cancer patients

Abstract

Background. The changes and general alarm of the current COVID-19 pandemic have amplified the sense of precariousness and vulnerability for family members who, in addition to the emotional trauma of the cancer diagnosis, add the distress and fear of the risks associated with infection. The primary objectives of the present study was to investigate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the parents of pediatric cancer patients, and to investigate the level of stress, anxiety, and the child’s quality of life perceived by the parents during the Covid-19 epidemic. Methods. The parents of 45 consecutive children with solid and haematological tumors were enrolled. Four questionnaires (Impact of Event Scale-Revised - IES-R ; Perceived Stress Scale - PSS; Spielberger State - Trait Anxiety Inventory - STAI-Y ; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory - PedsQL) were administered to the parents at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown. Results. 75% of parents exhibited remarkable levels of anxiety, with 60 subjects in state scale and 45 subjects in trait scale having scores that reached and exceeded the STAI-Y cut off. The bivariate matrix of correlation (Figure 1) found a strong significant positive correlation between the IES-R and PSS scores (r = 0.55, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlations between the PSS and PedsQL (emotional needs) scale (P < 0.001) and a negative correlation between IES-R and STAI-Y (P < 0.001). Conclusion. The results confirm that parents of pediatric cancer patients have a high psychological risk for post-traumatic symptoms, high stress levels, and the presence of clinically significant levels of anxiety.

Impacts of COVID‐19 on caregivers of childhood cancer survivors

“…Likewise, delays in routine imaging and follow‐up care could impede diagnosis of surfacing late effects and may negatively impact patient health and caregiver psychological distress 38,39 . Caregivers of CCS may be experiencing increased anxiety, distress, and exacerbated posttraumatic symptoms during COVID‐19 40 . Therefore, how the pandemic continues to impact CCS and their caregivers—from changes in clinical care to financial and emotional consequences—merits targeted evaluation.…”

Parental Factors Contribute to Childhood Cancer Abandonment Treatment During COVID-19

“…One study on the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Parents of Pediatric Cancer Patients stated that there was an increase in stress levels for parents who have children with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic due to fear and worry about the possibility that their child might be infected, especially if the child has a pre-existing condition such as cancer where infection with COVID-19 might aggravate symptoms and poses an additional risk to the child's health. 19 Another study in the UK on experiences, anxieties and support needs during COVID-19 in parents with children with cancer reported that the majority of parents were worried about SARS-CoV-2 and transmitting the virus to their child and hospital was no longer perceived to be a safe place, and parents were worried about suboptimal cancer care. 2 Poor attitudes and behavior related to COVID-19 infection has an increased rate of abandonment but not significantly related.…”