'It feels it's wasting whatever time I've got left': A qualitative study of living with treatable but not curable cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors
Radcliffe, E.Khan, Aysha
Wright, D.
Berman, Richard
Demain, S.
Foster, C.
Restorick-Banks, S.
Richardson, A.
Wagland, R.
Calman, L.
Affiliation
University of Southampton, Southampton, UKIssue Date
2021
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background: People living with cancer that is treatable but not curable have complex needs, often managing health at home, supported by those close to them. Challenges are likely to be exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk-reducing measures introduced in response. The impact of COVID-19 on those living with incurable, life-threatening conditions is little understood. Aim: To investigate the experiences and identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for people living with treatable not curable cancer and their informal carers. Design: Qualitative semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 21 patients living with cancer that is treatable but not curable and 14 carers. Setting/ participants: Participants were part of a larger longitudinal qualitative study (ENABLE) on supported self-management for people living with cancer that is treatable but not curable. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic magnified uncertainty and anxiety and led to loss of opportunities to do things important to patients in the limited time they have left to live. Lack of face-to-face contact with loved ones had a significant impact on patients' and carers' emotional wellbeing. Carers experienced increased responsibilities but less access to formal and informal support and respite. While changes to treatment led to some concern about longer-term impact on health, most patients felt well-supported by healthcare teams. Conclusion: The study provides rich insights into the nature of challenges, uncertainty and lost opportunities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic for patients and carers living with cancer that is treatable but not curable, which has wider resonance for people living with other life-limiting conditions.Citation
Radcliffe E, Khan A, Wright D, Berman R, Demain S, Foster C, et al. �It feels it�s wasting whatever time I�ve got left�: A qualitative study of living with treatable but not curable cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliative Medicine. SAGE Publications; 2021. p. 026921632110494.Journal
Palliative MedicineDOI
10.1177/02692163211049497PubMed ID
34664537Additional Links
https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/02692163211049497Type
ArticleLanguage
enae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1177/02692163211049497
Scopus Count
Collections
Related articles
- Pandemic impact on patients with advanced non-COVID-19 illness and their family carers receiving specialised palliative home care: a qualitative study.
- Authors: Nyblom S, Benkel I, Carling L, Löfdahl E, Molander U, Öhlén J
- Issue date: 2022 May 19
- Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on carers of persons with dementia in the UK: a qualitative study.
- Authors: Sriram V, Jenkinson C, Peters M
- Issue date: 2021 Nov 10
- Is it worth it? Carers' views and expectations of residential respite for people living with dementia during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Authors: Samsi K, Cole L, Orellana K, Manthorpe J
- Issue date: 2022 Jan
- Challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic by family carers of people living with dementia towards the end of life.
- Authors: Aker N, West E, Davies N, Moore KJ, Sampson EL, Nair P, Kupeli N
- Issue date: 2021 Sep 21
- A qualitative 5-country comparison of the perceived impacts of COVID-19 on people living with dementia and unpaid carers.
- Authors: Giebel C, Lion K, Mackowiak M, Chattat R, Kumar PNS, Cations M, Gabbay M, Moyle W, Ottoboni G, Rymaszewska J, Senczyszyn A, Szczesniak D, Tetlow H, Trypka E, Valente M, Chirico I
- Issue date: 2022 Feb 11