“I have never felt so alone and vulnerable” – A qualitative study of bereaved people’s experiences of end-of-life cancer care during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I have never felt so alone and vulnerable” – A qualitative study of bereaved people’s experiences of end-of-life cancer care during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Publication date: Dec 26, 2024

COVID-19 drastically affected healthcare services world-wide. In the UK, many cancer services were overwhelmed as oncology staff were reassigned, and cancer diagnoses and treatments were delayed. The impact of these pressures on end-of-life care for patients with advanced cancer and their relatives is not well understood. Secondary thematic analysis of qualitative survey and interview data, collected from family members and close friends bereaved by cancer, as part of a national COVID-19 bereavement study (Survey Nā€‰=ā€‰156; Interview Nā€‰=ā€‰10). Four key themes were identified: The impact of COVID-19 on contact with patients towards the end of life; Mixed experiences of support for family members; Variable communication quality from health and social care professionals; Prioritisation of COVID-19 and its impact on patient care. Hospital care was perceived more negatively than community care in almost all areas, while support from cancer charities and district nurses was appreciated the most. Almost all participants felt that COVID-19 was detrimentally prioritised over care for their relative/friend. People bereaved by cancer were uniquely affected by pandemic-restrictions and disruptions to services. As services re-build post-pandemic, improvements in palliative care in hospitals, investment into community care, and ensuring compassionate communication with patients and families must be prioritised, alongside preparedness for future pandemics or similar events.

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Concepts Keywords
Cancer Adult
Nurses Aged
Pandemic Aged, 80 and over
Relatives Bereavement
Bereavement
Cancer
COVID-19
COVID-19 pandemic
Family
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms
Pandemics
Qualitative Research
SARS-CoV-2
Terminal Care
United Kingdom

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH end-of-life
disease MESH cancer
disease MESH Covid-19 pandemic
drug DRUGBANK Etoperidone
disease IDO quality
pathway REACTOME Reproduction
disease MESH infection
disease MESH prolonged grief disorder
disease IDO process
drug DRUGBANK Creatinolfosfate
drug DRUGBANK Pentaerythritol tetranitrate
drug DRUGBANK Cysteamine
disease MESH loneliness
drug DRUGBANK Phenindione
disease MESH confusion
drug DRUGBANK Serine
disease MESH uncertainty
drug DRUGBANK Isoxaflutole
disease MESH medication errors
drug DRUGBANK Methylergometrine
disease IDO immune response
drug DRUGBANK Coenzyme M
disease MESH anxiety
disease MESH delayed treatment
disease MESH emergency
disease MESH infectious disease
pathway REACTOME Infectious disease
disease MESH causes
drug DRUGBANK Trestolone
disease IDO symptom
disease IDO blood
disease MESH brain tumor
disease MESH Blood Cancer

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