COVID-19 pandemic–related emotional, social, and medical concerns of Latino patients with cancer: perspectives of mental health providers

Abstract

Latino people with cancer might face additional health, emotional, and socioeconomic burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study included data from two waves of (independent) assessments with providers of mental health services to Latino/Hispanic people with cancer from the United States, Spain, and Latin America (first wave: May–July 2020; second wave: March–July 2021) who completed a cross-sectional online survey with open-ended and closed-ended questions, including concerns of people with cancer with/without COVID-19. The response rates were 15% for Wave 1 (N = 88) and 14% for Wave 2 (N = 115). For Wave 1, 74 surveys were completed by clinicians and included in the analyses; for Wave 2, 115 surveys were included. Providers (first [77%] and second [84%] waves) reported that most patients had concerns about stress/symptoms of anxiety, followed by concerns about COVID-19 exposure (first [74%] and second [82%] waves) and family members' exposure (second wave 75%), hospital visits or appointments (82%, 79%, respectively), treatment/testing delays (69%, 72%, respectively), general health (58%, 71%, respectively), and income/salary loss or reduction (60%, 50%, respectively). According to providers, concerns of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 included fear of death and dying, spreading the disease, getting worse, and lack of appropriate medical care. Our findings reveal the need to address health, emotional, and socioeconomic burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout Latin America, Spain, and the United States for Latino people with cancer. Interventions targeting the health care access, emotional, and socioeconomic needs of Latino people with cancer are warranted.