Breast cancer patients therapeutic adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: Knowledge level analytical study.

Abstract

89 Background: Corona virus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a new challenge for Indonesia's cancer patient’s treatment. Patients face problems in undergoing therapy during the pandemic due to government lockdown regulations. Cancer patients, especially breast cancer, still do not understand how to deal with this problem. This study aims to determine COVID-19 knowledge’s effect on therapeutic adherence in breast cancer patients in Indonesia. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study conducted from February to April 2021. This study involved breast cancer patients from various regions in Indonesia. The research instrument employed the UNS-CASKQ14 questionnaire (Universitas Sebelas Maret-Cancer Altitude Satisfaction Knowledge Questionnaire) to determine COVID-19 knowledge and therapeutic adherence levels in breast cancer patients. The data were then tested the Spearman Rho correlation utilizing SPSS 25. Results: There were 812 respondents in this study, with the most respondents in the age range of 50-59 years (31.8%). As many as 222 (27.3%) respondents had a low knowledge level about COVID-19, 511 (62.9%) respondents had a sufficient knowledge level, and 79 (9.8%) respondents had a good knowledge level. As many as 369 (45.4%) respondents had a low therapeutic adherence level, and 443 (54.6%) respondents had a good adherence level during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the Spearman Rho correlation test between COVID-19 knowledge and therapeutic adherence levels, the results obtained were p = 0.51 (p > 0.05), with the Spearman Rho coefficient value = 0.026. Conclusions: There was no significant effect between COVID-19 knowledge and therapeutic adherence levels in breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.