Understanding the experiences of patients with cancers in hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic in China: A qualitative research study.
Xing Chen, Wenyu Deng, Wenjuan Zhou and 8 others
PMID 34569186WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with cancer reported delaying treatment by one week to a month due to fear of infection.
They faced complex admission procedures and restricted food options. Once admitted, most felt safe and relieved, citing strict hospital infection controls as the source of their comfort.
Key findings
01Most participants delayed cancer treatment by at least one week and up to one month due to pandemic restrictions and fear of exposure.
02Barriers to care included longer registration waits, mandatory pre-admission lung CT scans, and financial burdens from uncovered tests.
03Patients expressed dissatisfaction with limited and bland hospital food services, which impacted their appetite and nutritional intake during chemotherapy.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Single-center study at a tertiary hospital, limiting generalizability to primary or community settings. Convenience sampling may introduce bias. Findings are specific to the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and may not reflect current global practices. Small sample size (n=22).
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the reported delays or emotional distress as evidence of poor nursing care or clinical outcomes. The study describes patient perceptions and logistical barriers during a specific public health crisis, not the efficacy of medical treatments or the quality of clinical care delivered.