Results of a German survey among patients with gynecological malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

e13533 Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on health care systems und social life. Due to limited resources, a rearrangement in medical care has been necessary in many countries. Strict rules of social distancing and postponing of medical appointments has brought major changes. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020, several studies reflecting patient perception of cancer care modification were performed. Currently, there are still limited data on patient perception concerning changes in cancer treatment, their willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and their acceptance of social life restrictions. We initiated a multicentre prospective anonymous survey among patients with gynecological cancer to gather information about the current therapy situation and the impact of their treatment and social life. We will report the first preliminary results of 108 patients. Methods: We performed a survey among patients with gynecological cancer, who received treatment or were in follow-up at Charité Campus Virchow Klinikum between October and December 2020. The paper form questionnaire included three sections in which social background, current disease status, and patient perception of the COVID-19 implications on cancer care and social life were evaluated. Results: We included 108 patients. The median age of the participants was 59. The majority of the participants had ovarian cancer (69.4 %) and 70 % were under current cancer treatment. Almost 65 % were willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. More than 50 % reported anxiety and fear during the last 2 weeks. Only 16.2 % were more afraid of a COVID-19 infection than their cancer disease. Despite uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, most patients fear tumour progression more than a COVID-19 infection. The cancer treatment appointments were altered in a small number of patients (9.4 %). Testing of COVID-19 was performed in 73 % of the participants. The acceptance of social measures was high; 87 % keeping social distance and over 90 % wearing a mask. Conclusions: Despite major challenges in cancer care due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the majority of the patients, the access to cancer treatment was less affected and the acceptance of prevention measures was high. Anxiety and fear was experienced by more than 50 %. The psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic should be further explored. The survey underscores the high need of information regarding COVID-19 and cancer.