A Phenomenological Study on Anxiety, Difficulties, and Expectations from Health Care Professionals of Women with Gynecological Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only been stressful for everyone but has also affected in the sensitive group cancer patients in many ways. This study aimed investigate the concerns of women with gynecological cancer, the difficulties they experienced, and their expectations from health care professionals during the COVID-19. The study adopted a qualitative design. 15 women with gynecological cancer participated in the study. Data were collected by conducting in-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Four themes were obtained: "fear and anxiety", "interruption of social life and daily routines", "problems experienced when receiving health care", and "expectations from health care professionals". The factors that caused fear and anxiety in patients during the pandemic were disruptions in the treatment, care process and lack of information about COVID-19 infection. From the perspective of patients, experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic and managing the deadly process of cancer was rather challenging.