MO22-5 COVID-19 lockdown: Psychological impact on breast cancer patients

Abstract

Background The objective of this study was to determine how lockdown due to COVID-19 affected quality of life, as well as physical and mental wellbeing of breast cancer patients and cancer survivors. Methods The study was carried out at the S. P. Medical College's regional cancer centre in Bikaner, India. Participants were requested to complete the questionnaire, EORTC-QLQ-BR23 and an additional COVID-19 questionnaire. Responses of patients were compared with before and after COVID-19 data. A mixed model statistical analysis was used to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on patient outcomes. Results In total, 120 patients (61.53%) completed the questionnaires. Seventy-five (75%) percent of all respondents thought the COVID-19 measures had a strong impact on their current treatment or (after) care, and 72.5% believed they were likely to have a serious impact on their (after) care in the future. The majority of respondents were concerned about their financial condition as a result of COVID-19 lockdown (p<0.005), and it had an impact on their psychological symptom scales such as insomnia, anxiety & stress, which showed significant changes during COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.005). The median total score of HADS (Hospital anxiety & depression scale) increased significantly during the COVID-19 (p<0.001). In non-actively treated patients, emotional functioning significantly decreased (p<0.005) in all age groups, although physical functioning grew in then significantly (p<0.005). Conclusion Breast cancer patient & survivors were less easily to contact their treating oncologist as a result of COVID-19 lockdown, and their emotional and social functioning suffered to a great extent. The quality of life for breast cancer patients was significantly lower in comparison to breast cancer patients who had not been treated during COVID-19 pandemic. Patients were more concerned about their future prospective and impact on their psychosocial behaviour.