No increase in psychosocial stress of Dutch children with cancer and their caregivers during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marloes van GorpHeleen Maurice-StamLayla C TeunissenWietske van de Peppel-van der MeerMaaike HuussenAntoinette Y N Schouten-van MeeterenMartha A GrootenhuisPublished in: Pediatric blood & cancer (2020)
We studied the psychosocial impact of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on Dutch children with cancer in outpatient care and their caregivers (n = 799) using regular monitoring and screening outcomes. No differences were observed between the pre-COVID-19 and early-COVID-19 periods in health-related quality of life and fatigue of children. Fewer caregivers were distressed during the COVID-19 period than pre-COVID-19. In conclusion, the additional stress of COVID-19 did not deteriorate psychosocial functioning of children with cancer and their caregivers. Results may be explained by alleviating daily life changes, experience in coping with medical traumatic stress, and appropriate care and support.
Keyphrases
- coronavirus disease
- sars cov
- palliative care
- papillary thyroid
- young adults
- healthcare
- squamous cell
- mental health
- spinal cord injury
- squamous cell carcinoma
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- childhood cancer
- depressive symptoms
- physical activity
- pain management
- adipose tissue
- skeletal muscle
- health insurance
- glycemic control