Assessing Cancer Patients' Accessibility to Healthcare Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study in Khartoum State

Abstract

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disruptive effect on healthcare services worldwide. In particular oncology care has witnessed significant setbacks. This retrospective cross-sectional study aims to explore the consequent impact on cancer patients at the Radiation and Isotopes Center Khartoum (RICK) in Sudan in terms of assessing cancer patients' accessibility to healthcare services and perceived barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khartoum state. It also aims to determine the coping strategies used by patients to overcome these barriers. Results The study found that 55.7% of the surveyed cancer patients had experienced disruptions in accessing essential cancer healthcare services during the lockdown. The study identified the most common cancers as breast (19.7%), gastrointestinal (19%), and ovarian (11%). Notable barriers included governmental travel restrictions (51.6%), outpatient service closures (41.8%), and high costs (27.8%). Additionally, delayed treatment was directly associated with a 33.3% fatality rate among the participants.