Revamping the delivery of cancer support, education, and wellness programming during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

e24127 Background: Supportive care is considered essential to standard care for patients with a history of cancer. The interdisciplinary team at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) of Thomas Jefferson University, an NCI-designated cancer center in Philadelphia, offers a robust variety of supportive care services including support groups, educational and wellness programs. SKCC includes four academic hubs across the Greater Philadelphia region. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent statewide shutdown of services, SKCC quickly pivoted to virtual offerings, to address patients’ supportive care needs. Recent research has shown patients self-reporting higher incidence of anxiety and loneliness due to the pandemic. Direct patient feedback identified programs of greatest need, the preferred times and format. Methods: At the beginning of the pandemic SKCC offered a program “Coping with Cancer and Covid-19: as You Navigate Cancer Treatment.” This program helped patients understand their risk of COVID-19 and provided emotional support as patients and caregivers began facing loneliness. Additional virtual offerings included Mindfulness Sessions, Yoga, Stretching for Stress Relief, Healing through Humor. SKCC began evaluating the impact of the programming beginning in June 2020. Attendees completed surveys evaluating the presentation, their level of psychological distress, perceived quality of life, and feelings of hope, loneliness, and connection. Participants were asked if they would attend another program and were asked to rate the program on a Likert scale. Results: In 2019 SKCC offered 273 programs and attracted 984 participants. Only 90 of the 984 participants attended virtually prior to the pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, SKCC has hosted 334 programs, all virtually, with 3,346 participants. Surveys were sent electronically and completed immediately after the completion of all support programs offered at SKCC. 40% of program participants’ completed an evaluation form and 94% rated the program exceptional or very good. Overall, 88% of participants in virtual wellness, support groups and educational programs indicated they would attend another program offered by SKCC. Conclusions: Virtual supportive care offerings have engaged more patients and caregivers than ever across SKCC hubs and have proven an effective means to continue to support patients during the pandemic. It is important to continue to evaluate and create meaningful programs to match the ongoing needs of patients and caregivers.[Table: see text]