Explaining stakeholder's opinion about healthcare supports for cancer patients during the Covid-۱۹ pandemic: a qualitative study

Introduction: In ۲۰۲۰ World faced Covid-۱۹ pandemic (۱). Covid-۱۹ infection in cancer patients had higher mortality and morbidity rates due to their immunosuppressed state (۲,۳). During the pandemic period of time a huge number of clinical guidelines and protocols and approaches were developed based-on the medical professionals, caregivers and patients’ studies and experiences. World achieved this experience in all fields of medicine including oncology which can be helpful in developing evidence-based care and treatment processes and methods. Accordingly, this study tries to explain the opinion and experiences of all the stakeholders about the impact of covid-۱۹ pandemic on cancer patients. Materials and Methods: The current study was conducted using the contractual content analysis method in ۲۰۲۱ using cancer patients and their families as well as care providers data. All participants were enrolled using a goal-based method and data gathered during ۱۹ face- to-face interviews, and a focus group meeting. Finally, they were analyzed based on the method of Lundman and Griesheim’s. (۴) Results: The Qualitative analysis of the data led to three main categories, including; psychological complains, distress and fear of cancer patients about Covid-۱۹ infection and its adverse effects, the barriers for continuing treatment, and changes in the pattern of cancer incidence and mortality rates. Conclusions: According to this study and considering the main problems of cancer patients, it is important to strengthen community-based care and familiarize patients with the structure of the health care system. Furthermore, telemedicine can lead to the reduction of the distress from contamination and infection. Further, an efficient supportive-palliative care and patient education programs can lead to a successful support for patients and their families in fields of physical, psychological and social support.

کلیدواژه ها:

Covid-۱۹ ، cancer patients ، terminally ill ، health care system