The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in people living with and beyond breast, prostate and colorectal cancer - a qualitative study

Simon Pini; Caroline Buck; Phillippa Lally; Rebecca Beeken; Abigail Fisher

doi:10.1186/s40359-023-01471-1

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in people living with and beyond breast, prostate and colorectal cancer - a qualitative study

BMC Psychol. 2024 Jan 16;12(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s40359-023-01471-1.

Authors

Simon Pini^#¹, Caroline Buck^#², Phillippa Lally³, Rebecca Beeken^#¹, Abigail Fisher^#⁴

Affiliations

¹ Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Level 10 Worsley Building, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9NL, UK.
² UCL Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
³ Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK.
⁴ UCL Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK. abigail.fisher@ucl.ac.uk.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Individuals living with and beyond cancer are at heightened risk of adverse psychological and social outcomes and experiences. In March 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic presented a unique set of social circumstances with the potential to exacerbate the challenges faced by this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of people living with and beyond cancer during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the impact on psychological and social aspects of their lives.

Methods: From a pool of participants from a larger health behaviours study thirty participants were purposively sampled for characteristics including: diagnostic group (breast, prostate and colorectal cancers), gender, time since diagnosis and age. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone to discuss their experience of living through the pandemic. A thematic analysis was conducted using a needs-based approach to detail the fundamental needs expressed by this population in relation to their mental health and quality of life during the pandemic.

Results: Three fundamental needs underpinned the experiences expressed by participants: the need to feel safe; particularly in relation to risk of contracting COVID-19 and their ongoing cancer monitoring; the need to feel connected; to the people, places, activities and practices of everyday life; and the need to make the most out of life; specifically in context of having already endured cancer and cancer treatment. Participant experiences are described in relation to how they impacted each of these three needs.

Conclusions: People living with and beyond cancer have past and ongoing experiences that make them vulnerable to adverse psychosocial reactions and outcomes. Support for this population needs to provide greater clarity of risk, clearer guidelines specific to their personal circumstances, and regular updates on scheduling of important follow up care and monitoring.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer survivorship; Mental health; Needs; Pandemic; Qualitative; Quality of life.

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Colorectal Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Humans
Male
Mental Health
Pandemics
Prostate
Quality of Life

Abstract

MeSH terms

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