Abstract
PurposeThe primary aim was to assess supportive care needs, compliance with home exercise program, quality of life level (QOL), and anxiety level during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The secondary aim was to investigate demographic and medical factors associated with the recorded outcomes.MethodsThe present study included individuals treated with HSCT and previously referred to physical therapy. The data were collected by interviews with the participants on the phone. Supportive care needs were assessed using the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form 29TR. Compliance with the exercise program was recorded as the number of patients regularly performed strengthening and stretching exercises and the ratio of the walking duration to the recommended duration. The European Cancer Research and Treatment Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Cancer30 was used to assess the QOL. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-I and the Visual Analogue Scale were used to assess anxiety level.ResultsThe present study included 101 individuals treated with HSCT. The psychological and physical supportive care needs were predominant in participants. Compliance with exercise program was low. General anxiety level was low, yet anxiety about COVID-19 was moderate level in participants. Supportive care needs were related to female gender, performance level, time since HSCT, and QOL level (p ˂ 0.05). Anxiety level was correlated with supportive care needs, COVID-19-related anxiety, and QOL (p ˂ 0.05). Compliance with exercise program was associated with age, performance level, and QOL (p ˂ 0.05).ConclusionOur results offer that supportive telehealth interventions should be considered during the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals treated with HSCT to decrease unmet supportive care needs and isolation-related physical inactivity.
Highlights
The current COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting a wide range of populations and has led to challenges in healthcare and supportive care services
Our primary aim was to determine supportive care needs, compliance with the exercise program, quality of life (QOL) level, and anxiety level during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
The present study screened the supportive care needs, compliance with the home exercise program, QOL level, and anxiety level during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals treated with HSCT
Summary
The current COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting a wide range of populations and has led to challenges in healthcare and supportive care services. Several changes have occurred in the diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care options of various diseases. Because cancer survivors’ follow-up appointments were generally postponed, this would lead to insufficiency in the management of the disease and treatment-related complications. As a result of these challenges, cancer survivors may have several concerns regarding their health during the COVID-19 pandemic [1, 5]. Support Care Cancer (2021) 29:4065–4073 it has been pointed out that health professionals working with cancer patients should examine patients’ supportive care needs as well as their physical and psychological status during the pandemic [1, 5]
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