Patient perspectives on colorectal cancer care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative interview study.

Abstract

33 Background: The COVID-19 pandemic generated unprecedented interruptions and impacts on healthcare services across the US, including cancer care delivery. Patient perspectives on navigating colorectal cancer (CRC) care throughout the pandemic have not been well documented. This study explored patient experiences and perspectives around CRC care delivery throughout the pandemic by examining the impacts of COVID-19 on planned treatment, healthcare access, and quality of care. Methods: Patients diagnosed with CRC prior to January 2020 and who received treatment for CRC during 2019 participated in this qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews explored treatment experiences before and during the pandemic and were conducted between December 2021 and March 2022. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Results: Twenty-four patients with CRC (mean age 45.4 years [SD=9.7]; 75% female; 62.5% current stage IV) completed an interview. Participants reported diminished mental health as the most salient impact of the pandemic related to their CRC care. Participants expressed how difficult, isolating, and lonely they felt navigating cancer treatment, particularly as a result of visitor restriction policies that did not allow their support person (e.g., spouse) to be present during visits or stays. Increased anxiety, fear, and worry over how the pandemic may affect their planned cancer care, including fear of contracting the virus themselves, were major concerns. Other impacts experienced included barriers to physically accessing care facilities (e.g., reduced appointment availability, staffing shortages), delays to patients’ planned treatment (e.g., canceled surgery), and increased access to and use of telehealth, which was perceived as being more convenient and safer than in-person visits. Participant perspectives on the quality of care they received throughout the pandemic were based on frequency and personalization of patient-provider communication, ability to access their usual care and support services (e.g., care navigators, support groups), and provider attention to their mental health. To improve the quality of cancer care in a pandemic setting, participants recommended personalized and frequent communications from the oncology care team, holistic care that includes mental health support, and streamlined insurance preauthorization processes. Conclusions: While the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on CRC care delivery have yet to be fully understood, this study highlights the key challenges patients experienced while receiving CRC care during the pandemic. Recognizing the strain of the pandemic on patients’ mental health and well-being will help to ensure patient-provider communication and support services consider the short and long-term effects of the pandemic for cancer patients as well as help contribute to improved treatment-related outcomes.