Qualitative assessment of the concerns on treatment and patient health among patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and their caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic
https://journals.lww.com/pjog/pages/currenttoc.aspx
- Author:
Jessabeth Bibat Mercado
1
;
Maria Febi Billones De Ramos
1
;
Maria Stephanie Fay Samadan Cagayan
1
Author Information
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Trophoblastic Diseases, Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia patients;
Health-care delivery
- MeSH:
COVID-19;
- From:
Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
2023;47(3):129-134
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:The COVID-19 pandemic has immobilized and impaired the operation of hospitals,
clinics, and other health-care facilities leaving a plethora of patients and persons-at-risk in a more
precarious position. Cancer patients were vulnerable to infections and complications due to the
nature of the malignancy. Their caregivers were likewise predisposed to infection while taking care
of them. This paper focused on determining the concerns of both gestational trophoblastic neoplasia
(GTN) patients and their caregivers and identified possible factors of improvement in the delivery
of essential cancer care.
Objective:The objective of the study was to describe the different concerns of GTN patients
and their caregivers during chemotherapy and other adjunctive treatments during the COVID-19
pandemic in a Tertiary Government Hospital.
Materials and methods:A qualitative type of research was employed in this research, for
which an in-depth interview was used. A total of 12 respondents, 6 patients and 6 caregivers, were
interviewed using a semi-structured pretested questionnaire.
Results:Findings showed that infection with COVID-19, financial and logistical constraints
exacerbated by the pandemic were the main concerns of both patients and caregivers. Other
concerns recorded include change in their attending physician, survivability of the patient, and the
availability of caregivers.
Conclusions:Despite the recorded apprehensions from the patients and caregivers, there was
a general satisfaction in the delivery of health care at the Division of Trophoblastic Diseases due to
the clarity in the follow-up and treatment schedules which have been optimized through the revised
guidelines and protocols set by the division to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Full text:qualitative_assessment_of_the_concerns_on.5.pdf
