The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on gynecologic oncology patients and their treatments

Year 2024, Volume: 24 Issue: 2, 54 - 65, 30.08.2024

Mehmet Şükrü Tolu , Fatma Ceren Güner , Elif Iltar , Selen Dogan

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to comprehensively assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on gynecological oncology patients, understand its potential long-term impacts, and optimize treatment processes accordingly.

Materials and Methods: The experiences of 250 patients diagnosed with gynecological cancer and undergoing follow-up between January 2021 and June 2022 at the Gynecologic Oncology Clinic of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Akdeniz University Hospital were extensively examined. This included an analysis of the changes occurring during their treatment processes and how their psychological states were affected. To gauge patients’ experiences and emotional responses, a specially designed questionnaire consisting of 23 questions was prepared. Additionally, the Beck Depression Inventory was utilized to assess their overall psychological status and levels of depression.

Results: Among the patients participating in the study, 53.6% had received the COVID-19 vaccine, while 20% had contracted the COVID-19 disease. Of these patients, 18% reported that the pandemic had disrupted their medical check-ups, 2% stated that their surgeries had been postponed, and 11% experienced delays in cancer diagnosis. Additionally, 32% of the patients felt the need for psychological support during the pandemic. Regarding anxiety levels, 24% of those who had contracted COVID-19 and 11% of those who hadn’t, exhibited moderate to severe anxiety according to the Beck Depression Scale. Only 12% of the patients mentioned receiving psychological support during this period.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a crisis deeply impacting healthcare systems, treatment protocols, and the quality of life of patients worldwide, including in our country. Significant findings have been obtained regarding the challenges faced by gynecological oncology patients during the pandemic, changes in treatment processes, and their psychological conditions. These findings contribute significantly to raising awareness about the difficulties encountered by gynecological oncology patients during the pandemic and identifying the precautions that need to be taken for these patients.

Keywords

COVID-19 Pandemic, Healthcare, Healthcare Surveys, Gynecologic Neoplasms, Psychological Factors

COVID-19 pandemisinin jinekolojik onkoloji hastaları ve tedavileri üzerindeki etkileri

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, COVID-19 pandemisinin jinekolojik onkolojik hastaları üzerindeki etkileri kapsamlı olarak değerlendirmeyi, olası uzun vadeli etkilerini anlamayı ve tedavi süreçlerini bu doğrultuda optimize etmeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Gereç ve Yöntem: Akdeniz Üniversitesi Hastanesi Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Anabilim Dalı Jinekolojik Onkoloji kliniğinde jinekolojik kanser tanılı Ocak 2021- Haziran 2022 tarihleri arasında kontrolleri yapılan 250 hastaya nasıl bir deneyim yaşadığı, tedavi süreçlerinde hangi değişikliklerin meydana geldiği ve psikolojik durumlarının nasıl etkilendiği detaylı bir şekilde ele alınmıştır. Hastaların deneyimlerini ve duygusal yanıtlarını ölçmek üzere 23 sorudan oluşan özel bir anket formu hazırlanmıştır. Genel psikolojik durumları ve depresyon seviyelerini ölçmek amacıyla ise Beck Depresyon Ölçeği’ne başvurulmuştur.

Bulgular: Araştırmaya katılan hastaların %53.6’sı COVID-19 aşısını yaptırmış, %20’si COVID-19 hastalığını geçirmiştir. Hastaların %18’i pandeminin kontrollerini aksattığını, %2’si ameliyatının ertelendiğini, %11’i kanser tanısında gecikme olduğunu belirtirken %32’si pandemi sürecinde psikolojik desteğe ihtiyaç duymuştur. COVID geçirenlerin %24’ünde, COVID geçirmeyenlerin %11’inde Beck depresyon ölçeğine göre orta ve şiddetli düzeyde anksiyete mevcuttur. Bu süreçte hastaların yalnız %12’si psikolojik destek aldığını belirtmiştir.

Sonuç: COVID-19 pandemisi, tüm dünyada olduğu gibi ülkemizde de sağlık sistemlerini, tedavi protokollerini ve hastaların yaşam kalitesini derinden etkileyen bir kriz haline gelmiştir. Jinekolojik onkoloji hastalarının pandemi sürecinde yaşadığı zorluklar, tedavi süreçlerindeki değişiklikler ve psikolojik durumlarına dair önemli bulgular elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, pandemi sürecinde jinekolojik onkoloji hastalarının karşılaştığı zorluklara dair farkındalığı artırmakta ve bu hastalar için alınması gereken tedbirleri belirlemekte önemli bir katkı sağlamaktadır.

Keywords

Covid-19 Pandemisi, Hastaların Deneyimleri, Jinekolojik Kanserler, Psikolojik Faktörler, Sağlık Hizmetleri

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma Helsinki Bildirgesi’ne göre Araştırma ve Yayın Etiğine uygun olarak tasarlandı ve Akdeniz Üniversitesi Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu (Karar no: KAEK-961/23.12.2020) onayı alındı.

Supporting Institution

yok

Thanks

yok

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