Abstract 1578P
Background
On March 11th 2020, COVID-19 was categorized as a pandemic. Risk factors for poor outcomes in COVID-19 disease include a personal history of cancer. The purpose of this research is to explore what cancer patients (pts) know about COVID-19 and their perception of the risk of infection.
Methods
From 14th March until 4th May, a total of 33 cancer pts from the 167 admitted in the hospitalisation ward of the Medical Oncology Department of University Hospital La Fe were included. Our questionnaire is a psychometric five points Likert scale with 25 questions and 5 additional open questions. A stratified analysis by age, gender, marital status, educational background, number of previous systemic treatments and cause of hospitalisation was carried out. χ2 test, Fisher’s exact test, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and Kendall rank correlation coefficient (Tau-b statistic or Tau-c) were performed when indicated for each category. The time delay between the appearance of symptoms and the seeking of medical help at our Hospital, due to fear of COVID-19, was also analyzed.
Results
Of the 33 pts included in the study, 22 were male and 11 female. 20 pts received one or more previous systemic therapy. Median age was 57 years old. Their responses indicated that cancer pts felt they needed more information about COVID-19 and how it could affect them. When asked about the perception of the risk of infection, most pts were afraid of coronavirus disease (63.7%) but did feel safe in both the emergency department (57.6%) and the hospitalisation area (81.8%). When pts were asked about how they felt during this hospitalisation period compared with previous ones, they claimed that the quality of care received in the hospitalisation area by both nurses and doctors had not changed from other times (84.9%), in spite of the strict measures being implemented. Previously treated cancer pts were more aware of secondary effects of antineoplastic treatment than those pts who had not received any treatment, including the possibility of a SARS-CoV-2 infection with atypical symptoms (p = 0.005). About 50% of pts did delay seeking medical help; these pts were admitted in a poorer physical condition, their hospital stays were longer and more difficulties were found in treating the oncological process; a higher risk of death was also seen.
Conclusions
We are experiencing an extraordinary scenario have never seen before. Now, cancer patients have spoken and it is our responsibility to solve their problems, listen to their fears and help them in these difficult months we are facing.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Benjamin Domingo Arrué.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.