“You matter”: Patient reported outcomes on cancer disparities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

e13674 Background: Disparities in cancer care have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the challenges encountered by patients can help alleviate the burden of cancer and improve access to care. Methods: We recruited consecutive patients with cancer at a comprehensive academic cancer center and analyzed patient reported socioeconomic and mental health challenges, and their perception of access to care since the start of the pandemic using a modified version of the You Matter: COVID-19 Mental Health Impact Survey. The survey instrument was self-administered once from November 11, 2022 to January 12, 2023 and consisted of 21 items with questions focused on demographics, social health, telehealth attitudes, and mental health. Established patients diagnosed at the cancer center prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and who are continuing care were included in the study. Results: A total of 136 participants were included in this analysis. Participants characteristics were as follows: 70% had age>65, 75% white, 70% female, 43 % had bachelor's degree or higher, 62.5% with non-private insurance, 95% maintained same insurance throughout the pandemic, and 80% had household of > 1 person. Since April 2020, 49.3% reported increased level of stress and 60.6% reported increased anxiety, stress or experience of distress as a direct result of COVID-19. Among the patients that reported they had participated in telehealth, 84.4% described it as easy and effective, and 70.6% found it either comfortable or neutral. Black participants were more likely to have less contact with providers compared to white participants (OR=5.54, p=0.0180); participants age ≥65 were more likely to report worse overall health compared to younger participants (OR=2.67, p=0.0359); male participants were more likely to experience challenges because of COVID-19 (OR=2.12, p=0.0496), were less uncomfortable with telehealth (OR=0.034, p=0.0350), had increased anxiety and stress, and experienced less distress due to COVID19 (OR=0.47, p=0.0490) compared to female participants. Conclusions: Challenges reported during the COVID-19 pandemic varied across sociodemographic groups, with elderly, male and black reporting the worst impact related to the pandemic. The vast majority of the survey participants reported increased stress, anxiety, or distress affecting quality of life and hindering access to care. The results of the study, however, suggest the important role of telehealth in addressing challenges and narrowing disparities in access to cancer care across the majority of participants.