Investigating the effects pre-, during and post- the COVID-19 lockdown on cancer patient self-reported symptoms intensity in a Southwestern Ontario Cancer Center

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Investigating the effects pre-, during and post- the COVID-19 lockdown on cancer patient self-reported symptoms intensity in a Southwestern Ontario Cancer Center

Investigating the effects pre-, during and post- the COVID-19 lockdown on cancer patient self-reported symptoms intensity in a Southwestern Ontario Cancer Center

Jiil Chung
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

FUNDER: Schulich-UWindsor Opportunities for Research Excellence Program (SWORP)

GRANT DURATION: 2024-2025

Related Programs:
Nucleus Cores:

This study will describe the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on self-reported symptoms of patients visiting the Windsor Regional Cancer Center from 2019-2023. Self-reported results of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale Revised version (ESAS-r), a validated and widely used questionnaire for symptom intensity assessment, will be used to compare scores among all cancer disease sites, between the three time frames of, pre-, during, and post- COVID-19 lockdowns. The following questions will be addressed: 1) Did the lockdown affect self-reported symptom intensity in cancer patients? 2) What cancer sites symptom intensity were most affected by the lockdown? 3) Was there a recovery in symptom intensity levels after the lockdown ceased? There is currently a gap in the understanding of the impact that the COVID-19 lockdown had on cancer patients, the project aim is to clarify the relationship between the patients’ reported symptom intensity and the potential limited access to healthcare during the pandemic lockdown.

Results may highlight the gradual improvement of care and volume of patients that hospitals were able to take on, which are important findings to better understand the illness trajectory of cancer patients during the transition period. Ultimately, this study will contribute to improving the longitudinal care and management of cancer patients by providing a clearer depiction of how their symptoms evolved during and after the COVID-19 lockdown.

CO-INVESTIGATORS

University of Windsor

  • Dr. Laurie Freeman
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