Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33303410›Full record

ArticleJournal of geriatric oncology2021

Older survivors of cancer in the COVID-19 pandemic: Reflections and recommendations for future care.

Kristen R Haase, Danielle Kain, Shaila Merchant, Christopher Booth, Rachel Koven, Michael Brundage, Jacqueline Galica

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of geriatric oncology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 28 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Lifetime Pain Management Experiences of Female Breast Cancer Survivors Aged 65+ Years.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses · 2025
    Article
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  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Perspectives of older women with early breast cancer on telemedicine during post-primary treatment.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022
    Article
  9. Experiences of cancer care in COVID-19: A longitudinal qualitative study.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society · 2022
    Article
  10. Review
  11. Review
  12. The Use of Telemedicine in Older Patients with Gastrointestinal Diseases.Current treatment options in gastroenterology · 2022
    Review
  13. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Palliative Care in Cancer Patients in Spain.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021
    Article
  14. The cost of living with cancer during the second wave of COVID-19: A mixed methods study of Danish cancer patients' perspectives.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society · 2021
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Kristen R HaaseSchool of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Science, The University of British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: kristen.haase@ubc.ca.
Danielle KainDivision of Palliative Medicine, Departments of Medicine and Oncology, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Canada.
Shaila MerchantDivision of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Queen's University, Canada.
Christopher BoothCanada Research Chair in Population Cancer Care; Principal Investigator, Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Canada; Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, Canada; Departments of Oncology and Medicine, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Canada.
Rachel KovenDivision of Cancer Care & Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Canada.
Michael BrundageDepartment of Oncology, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Canada; Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Canada; Kingston Regional Cancer Centre, Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Canada.
Jacqueline GalicaDivision of Cancer Care & Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Canada; School of Nursing, Queen's University, Canada.
Queen's University · CAUniversity of British Columbia · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAlthough the year after cancer treatment is challenging for all cancer survivors, older adults (≥60 years) face additional challenges due to age-related decline and high rates of comorbidity. There is a paucity of research on how health service interruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the experience of older cancer survivors. In this study we explore older cancer survivors' reflections on the pandemic and their suggestions for future care delivery when traditionally offered resources are not available.

methodsWe conducted 1:1 telephone interviews with adults 60 years and older previously diagnosed with breast and colorectal cancer and recently (≤12 months) discharged from their cancer care team. We analyzed the data using descriptive thematic analysis.

resultsThe mean sample (n = 30) age was 72.1 years (SD 5.8, Range 63-83) of whom 57% identified as female. Participants described personal and societal implications of the pandemic. that affected their ability to navigate social support, and public and clinical landscapes. These reflections informed their suggestions for future health care delivery, such as how they could have been better prepared to self-manage their post-cancer treatment journey. Participants recommendations were grouped into four sub-themes: 1) enhanced baseline information; 2) facilitate caregiver support and engagement; 3) greater technology integration; and 4) sustained use and public appreciation of personal protective equipment.

conclusionOlder cancer survivors appreciate the needed shift to virtual appointments and services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific strategies to bolster older adults existing strengths and improve their readiness to engage in these measures are critical.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsCOVID-19Delivery of Health CarePersonal Protective EquipmentSocial SupportAgedAged, 80 and overAttitude to HealthBreast NeoplasmsColorectal NeoplasmsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2CancerCOVID-19Older adultsQualitative methodsSurvivorship

Identifiers

PMID33303410
PMCPMC7713572
OpenAlexW3107516272

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.