The Effect of COVID-19 Fear Level on Hospital Admissions in Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objective: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) causes fear and anxiety due to its high mortality rates and high spreading rate. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the level of fear of COVID-19 disease on the frequency of hospital admissions of cancer patients. Material and Methods: Fear of Coronavirus-19 Scale questionnaire was used to evaluate the fear of COVID-19 in cancer patients who were followed up and treated at Gaziantep University Department of Medical Oncology during September 1-30. The changes made by the patients in the frequency of hospital admissions were questioned. Results: It was observed that 36 of 107 patients included in the study changed the frequency of hospital admissions. However, no statistical relationship was found between the COVID-19 fear level and the change in the frequency of hospital admissions. When the factors affecting the frequency of hospital admissions were evaluated, it was observed that there was less change in the frequency of admission to hospital in patients without symptoms, with a history of surgery, receiving parenteral therapy, and with advanced disease. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, oral treatment and being a patient under fol-low-up, having surgery, being a patient without symptoms negatively affected hospital admissions. Future studies will determine how the survival of these patients will be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021 by Turkish Society of Medical Oncology.