The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health behaviours of people living with and beyond breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer—a qualitative study

Buck, Caroline; Pini, Simon; Lally, Phillippa; Beeken, Rebecca J; Fisher, Abigail

doi:10.1007/s11764-022-01234-8

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(51 reference statements)

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“…In keeping with research prior to the pandemic [ 9 ] and research during the pandemic focussing on health behaviours [ 33 ], the emotional and social scaffolding people had around them was a key moderating factor in their mental health, whether this was other people or their immediate physical environment, such as having accessible outside spaces. People also appeared to suffer more if they were used to relying on external and social stimulus to regulate their mental health in their everyday lives, such as sports, clubs, employment or regular social engagements.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in people living with and beyond breast, prostate and colorectal cancer – a qualitative study

Pini,

Buck,

Lally

et al. 2024

BMC Psychol

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Background Individuals living with and beyond cancer are at heightened risk of adverse psychological and social outcomes and experiences. In March 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic presented a unique set of social circumstances with the potential to exacerbate the challenges faced by this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of people living with and beyond cancer during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the impact on psychological and social aspects of their lives. Methods From a pool of participants from a larger health behaviours study thirty participants were purposively sampled for characteristics including: diagnostic group (breast, prostate and colorectal cancers), gender, time since diagnosis and age. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone to discuss their experience of living through the pandemic. A thematic analysis was conducted using a needs-based approach to detail the fundamental needs expressed by this population in relation to their mental health and quality of life during the pandemic. Results Three fundamental needs underpinned the experiences expressed by participants: the need to feel safe; particularly in relation to risk of contracting COVID-19 and their ongoing cancer monitoring; the need to feel connected; to the people, places, activities and practices of everyday life; and the need to make the most out of life; specifically in context of having already endured cancer and cancer treatment. Participant experiences are described in relation to how they impacted each of these three needs. Conclusions People living with and beyond cancer have past and ongoing experiences that make them vulnerable to adverse psychosocial reactions and outcomes. Support for this population needs to provide greater clarity of risk, clearer guidelines specific to their personal circumstances, and regular updates on scheduling of important follow up care and monitoring.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in people living with and beyond breast, prostate and colorectal cancer – a qualitative study

Pini,

Buck,

Lally

et al. 2024

BMC Psychol

Self Cite

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“…Cancer patients also generally engage in key positive health behaviours such as sufficient exercise, healthy eating, limiting alcohol and not smoking to effectively navigate cancer treatment and maximise survival outcomes [40][41][42]46]. The ability to maintain these positive health behaviours also may have been compromised by the pandemic [47]. The dearth of evidence on how the pandemic has impacted these services, which are critical for building resilient cancer management systems, represents an important gap in the literature and negatively impacts efforts to support and strengthen these services.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer service delivery and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

Ezenwankwo¹,

Nnaji²,

Moodley³

2022

ecancer

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Background:The impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on health systems is widely reported worldwide. However, what remains unclear is the relative extent of the pandemic's effects on cancer management in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This review provides an up-to-date synthesis of the literature to inform post-pandemic policy and practice efforts in the region.Methods: Sources searched for published research include MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, African Index Medicus, African Wide Information and Web of Science. Using predefined criteria, the retrieved citations were screened for primary research describing the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cancer care and service delivery landscape in SSA since March 2020. Evidence was summarised using narrative synthesis.Results: Fourteen studies reporting findings from 19 SSA countries were included in this review. Studies were conducted mostly in the first wave of the pandemic (between March and July 2020) (10/14). The most commonly reported impact on cancer treatment (including surgery) were cancellations, delays and modifications (11/14). Half (7/14) of the studies reported on the impact of the pandemic on cancer care resource availability and service restructuring. Other notable impacts included temporary suspension, total cancellations or alterations in cancer screening (3/14) and diagnostic (3/14) services or programmes. Disruptions in cancer research and outreach activities were also reported (3/14). The availability and maintenance of cancer healthcare depended on multiple factors like availability of clinical supplies, existing oncology workforce, adequate supply of personal protective equipment and local pandemic mitigation measures. Notably, no studies reported on the impact of the pandemic on psychosocial support programmes, physiotherapy and other rehabilitation care for cancer patients. Conclusion:Changes in cancer care and service delivery due to the COVID-19 pandemic varied considerably across countries in SSA. This review underscores the need for urgent actions to mitigate current setbacks while recommending evidence-based and contextualised approaches to revitalising cancer care in the post-pandemic era.

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“…With a paucity of existing literature guiding the questions that arose from this unprecedented event, researchers turned to exploratory qualitative designs to gain a better understanding of the effects of the pandemic event in colorectal surgery, specifically. [14][15][16][17]…”

Section: Selecting and Specifying A Research Questionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative Research and Applications in Colorectal Surgery

Vitous

Suwanabol

2023

Clin Colon Rectal Surg

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Traditionally employed in medical anthropologic and sociologic literature, qualitative methods are emerging as an essential component of clinical research as surgeons and researchers strive to optimize care informed by patient perspectives. Qualitative methods in health care–related research may be used to understand subjective experiences, beliefs, and concepts that are not captured using quantitative analyses and to gain in-depth knowledge of a specific context or culture. A qualitative approach may also be employed to explore under-researched problems and generate new ideas. Here, we provide an overview of aspects to consider when designing and conducting a qualitative research study.

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health behaviours of people living with and beyond breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer—a qualitative study

Cited by 3 publications

References 34 publications

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in people living with and beyond breast, prostate and colorectal cancer – a qualitative study

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in people living with and beyond breast, prostate and colorectal cancer – a qualitative study

Cancer service delivery and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

Qualitative Research and Applications in Colorectal Surgery

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