Arndt Büssing1,2, Daniela Rodrigues Recchia3,4, Jutta Hübner5,6, Stefanie Walter7, Judith Büntzel8, Jens Büntzel9,6. 1. Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Witten/Herdecke University, Herdecke, Germany. arndt.buessing@uni-wh.de. 2. Working Group "Prevention and Integrative Oncology" (PRIO) in the German Cancer Society, Berlin, Germany. arndt.buessing@uni-wh.de. 3. Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Witten/Herdecke University, Herdecke, Germany. 4. Chair of Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, 58448, Witten, Germany. 5. Klinik Für Innere Medizin, Universitätsklinikum II, University Clinic Jena, Jena, Germany. 6. Working Group "Prevention and Integrative Oncology" (PRIO) in the German Cancer Society, Berlin, Germany. 7. Bundesverband der Kehlkopfoperierten E. V, Bonn, Germany. 8. Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Universitätsmedizin, Göttingen, Germany. 9. Department of Otolaryngology, Palliative Care Unit, Südharz Klinikum Nordhausen, Nordhausen, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, tumor patients not only perceived fears and worries but were experiencing also positive changes as the perception of nature and silence, moments of wondering awe, and more intense relationships. We intended to analyze whether these perceptions may differ between patients from waves 1 and 2 of the pandemic. METHODS: Cross-sectional study at two time periods (May to June, sample 1) and September to November 2020 (sample 2) with standardized questionnaires (i.e. WHO-5, MLQ, PCQ-12). RESULTS: Patients from sample 1 (n = 292) and sample 2 (n = 221) did not differ with respect to gender, age, partner or tumor status. Most are still "irritated by statements about danger and course of the infection" (58%) and are "worrying to be infected and to have complicated course of disease" (55%). Neither their well-being nor meaning in life nor fears and worries were significantly different. In sample 2 patients, Worrying reflections and loneliness scored significantly lower, while their Perception of nature and silence was lower in trend only; more intense relationships are still relevant. Moments of wondering awe and religious trust were perceived less often during wave 2. Particularly religious patients scored stronger for Perception of nature and silence and Worrying reflections and loneliness. CONCLUSION: Oncologists/psychologist have to know that patients' situation has not changed within the time of pandemic and that they still require information, close support and encouragement to rely on their resources to cope. Perceived changes are reflecting coping strategies that could be trained to increase patients' resilience during further pandemic waves.
OBJECTIVE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, tumorpatients not only perceived fears and worries but were experiencing also positive changes as the perception of nature and silence, moments of wondering awe, and more intense relationships. We intended to analyze whether these perceptions may differ between patients from waves 1 and 2 of the pandemic. METHODS: Cross-sectional study at two time periods (May to June, sample 1) and September to November 2020 (sample 2) with standardized questionnaires (i.e. WHO-5, MLQ, PCQ-12). RESULTS:Patients from sample 1 (n = 292) and sample 2 (n = 221) did not differ with respect to gender, age, partner or tumor status. Most are still "irritated by statements about danger and course of the infection" (58%) and are "worrying to be infected and to have complicated course of disease" (55%). Neither their well-being nor meaning in life nor fears and worries were significantly different. In sample 2 patients, Worrying reflections and loneliness scored significantly lower, while their Perception of nature and silence was lower in trend only; more intense relationships are still relevant. Moments of wondering awe and religious trust were perceived less often during wave 2. Particularly religious patients scored stronger for Perception of nature and silence and Worrying reflections and loneliness. CONCLUSION: Oncologists/psychologist have to know that patients' situation has not changed within the time of pandemic and that they still require information, close support and encouragement to rely on their resources to cope. Perceived changes are reflecting coping strategies that could be trained to increase patients' resilience during further pandemic waves.
Authors: Jens Büntzel; Stefanie Walter; Herbert Hellmund; Michael Klein; Jutta Hübner; Petr Vitek; Judith Büntzel; Sven Koscielny; Andreas M Sesterhenn; Arndt Büssing Journal: Laryngorhinootologie Date: 2020-12-14 Impact factor: 1.057
Authors: Arndt Büssing; Daniela Rodrigues Recchia; Rudolf Hein; Thomas Dienberg Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2020-11-30 Impact factor: 3.186
Authors: Peter Reichardt; Andreas Bollmann; Sven Hohenstein; Bertram Glass; Michael Untch; Annette Reichardt; Daniel Amrein; Ralf Kuhlen Journal: Oncol Res Treat Date: 2020-12-17 Impact factor: 2.825