The Effect of COVID-19 on Cancer Patients Taking Chemotherapy at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital Oncology Department.
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Date
2021-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have caused hundreds of thousands deaths worldwide, with the first case in Ethiopia reported on March 13, 2020. Knowledge and awareness of mode of disease transmission, basic hygiene principles and measures in public health crisis are important for developing effective control measure. This pandemic and actions taken to prevent its spread is affecting the world population including cancer patients. In Ethiopia the COVID-19 awareness as well as its effect on cancer patients is not known.
Objective: To evaluate awareness, experiences and effect of COVID 19 on cancer patients in receipt of chemotherapy from April 01 to June 30, 2020 in Ethiopia.
Methods: Phone based cross-sectional survey was conducted among cancer patients attending day care or inpatient chemotherapy treatment from April 01 to June 30, 2020 at TASH, at the Department of Clinical Oncology. All patients taking chemotherapy in day care or ward admissions during the study period whose age was greater than 18 years, and who agreed to participate was included in the study. Descriptive statistics and further analysis for association was conducted using STATA version 16. The level of significance was obtained at P<0.05.
Results: A total of 212 patients completed the questionnaire, with median age of 40 years (range 20-82), and 67.9% were females. 44.3% of participants were patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 41% of the participants were on palliative intent treatments. Delay, cancellation, or change in scheduling for receipt of treatment occurred in 78 patients (36.79%). Service interruption by providers accounted for the majority of the impacts (45 patients, 57.7%), followed by transportation difficulties (16, 20.5%), fear of virus exposure (14, 18.0%). Patients on palliative intent of treatment had more effect on treatment compared to adjuvant (P<0.001), and likelihood of not having enough medications to last for a month, not having a place to stay in nearby vicinity were associated with effect on treatment (P=0.009, and P=0.03 respectively). Patients’ knowledge and practice regarding COVID-19 and its prevention methods is good.
Conclusion: The coronavirus outbreak or restrictions made in response to the outbreak impacted receipt of chemotherapy for a considerable proportion of patients at TASH.
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Keywords
COVID-19, Awareness, Experiences, Impact, Ethiopia, STATA.