Health-Seeking Behavior and Anxiety of Cancer Patients in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author:

Rahman Nur-A-Safrina,Mustafa Munmun,Tabassum Tahsin Tasneem,Simu Sumona Haque,Gupta Mridul,Afrin Sumaiya,Samiha Maisha,Moulee Shahra Tanjim,Abdullah Faisal,Sharmin Sifat,Loken Bilkis Akhter,Trisha Sadia Mahmud,Saimon Md.,Podder Vivek,Singhania Priya,Islam ANM Shamsul

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has posed unique challenges for cancer patients, who not only require ongoing medical care but also face an elevated risk of infection. Investigating the health-seeking behavior and barriers among adult cancer patients during this global crisis is crucial for ensuring their access to essential care amidst the pandemic’s complexities.ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study aimed to assess the health-seeking behavior, perceived barriers, and anxiety among adult cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and MethodsThe study, conducted from August 2020 to December 2020, involved 210 participants purposively selected from the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital and Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital in Dhaka. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS (Version 26).ResultsAmong the 210 participants, 56.2% were male, 28.6% aged 46-55, and 36.7% had no formal education. Approximately 52.3% preferred public healthcare facilities, while 6.2% sought homeopathy or pharmacy advice for symptoms. Significant differences emerged in post-pandemic healthcare provider contact (p-0.0). Notably, 88.1% missed appointments, with 78.3% taking no action. Barriers included transport issues (77.1%), reduced income (59%), and lacking financial (53.4%) and mental support (56.6%). Conversely, respondents downplayed public awareness (80%), infection risk from others (84.7%), healthcare provider infection risk (82.4%), and hospital overcrowding (64.8%). Fear of hospitals correlated with public awareness (p-0.0). On the GAD-7 scale, most had minimal anxiety (53.8%), with a weak provider contact-anxiety correlation (p-0.03). Healthcare providers excelled in precautions (99.5%) and health status communication (85.3%).ConclusionDespite the barriers and risks posed by the pandemic, cancer patients prioritized their care. Given the need for continued cancer care and the elevated risk of COVID-19 among cancer patients, adapting measures to align with the population’s real needs could prove highly beneficial.

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Reference45 articles.

1. The UK Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project: protecting patients with cancer in the era of COVID-19;UK Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project team;The Lancet. Oncology,2020

2. The role of telehealth during COVID-19 outbreak: a systematic review based on current evidence

3. Association of COVID-19 and Cancer: Risk Statistics and Management of COVID-19 in Cancer Patients;International Cardiovascular Forum Journal,2020

4. World Health Organization (2020). Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it. [online] www.who.int. Available at:

5. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/naming-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-2019)-and-the-virus-that-causes-it.

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3