Abstract 1643P
Background
Pandemic spread, rapid transmissibility and currently incurable status has made COVID-19 a major concern of today. Old age and weak immunity make cancer patients highly susceptible to get infected.
Methods
A questionnaire-based study was conducted to determine knowledge of cancer patients about COVID-19 and resulting response in terms of preventive measures, delays in scheduled cancer management and impact of delay on cancer. Data was analyzed using SPSS version.23. Descriptive variables were reported as means and frequencies. Intergroup analysis was done using Chi square test with p<0.05 taken as significant.
Results
Of 269 enrolled patients, the majority had advanced/metastatic disease (82.4%) and were being treated on an outpatient basis (71.6%). Almost all (99.6%) were aware of COVID, electronic/print being the most common source of information (62.7%). Though having different views, 81.5% took it as a natural calamity. 71.3% considered themselves among the highrisk population. During first and second wave, 22.4% had delayed their investigations while treatment interruptions were seen in 34.7% patients, with average duration of delay being 55±27 days and traveling difficulties due to lockdown commonest reason of delay (54.8%). During this period 62.4% either noted worsening of symptoms or new symptoms. Despite all the chaos, 89.9% selected for treatment continuation if provided with a chance and appropriate facilities. Correlation of delay in therapy with high level of education (p=0.013) and perception about COVID-19 as a natural calamity (p=0.041) was found to be statistically significant. Table: 1643P
Knowledge of cancer patients towards COVID-19
| Number | %age | |
| Source of Information: | ||
| Electronic/print media | 168 | 62.7 |
| Social media | 29 | 10.8 |
| Relatives/friends | 66 | 24.6 |
| Health care worker | 4 | 1.5 |
| View about COVID-19 | ||
| Natural calamity | 212 | 81.5 |
| Plot by government | 12 | 4.6 |
| Man-made virus | 17 | 6.5 |
| It has no existence | 16 | 6.2 |
| Is it a threat to life? | ||
| Major threat | 123 | 45.9 |
| Mild threat | 86 | 32.1 |
| No threat at all | 20 | 7.5 |
| Mode of transmission | ||
| Via droplets | 153 | 57.1 |
| Air borne transmission | 21 | 7.8 |
| Person to person | 68 | 25.4 |
| Via contaminated food | 12 | 4.5 |
| COVID case in friends/relatives | ||
| Yes | 69 | 25.7 |
| No | 200 | 74.3 |
| Death due to COVID in friends/family | ||
| Yes | 16 | 6 |
| No | 253 | 94.05 |
Conclusions
Patient’s perspective is an important factor in management of a disease especially under unusual circumstances like COVID-19. It should be taken into account to help in making efficient management planning in future.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.