Exploring health related quality of life for women with breast cancer in Ireland and Québec, Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract The long-term consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer (BC) is highly unknown, however persisting unmet needs and psychosocial difficulties are likely. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the change in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) from the pandemic to po...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84852-9 |
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| author | Charlotte Myers Kathleen Bennett Caitriona Cahir Josée Savard Sophie Lauzier |
| author_facet | Charlotte Myers Kathleen Bennett Caitriona Cahir Josée Savard Sophie Lauzier |
| author_sort | Charlotte Myers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The long-term consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer (BC) is highly unknown, however persisting unmet needs and psychosocial difficulties are likely. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the change in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) from the pandemic to post-pandemic for women living with a diagnosis of BC and to assess the association between COVID-19 stressor impact and HR-QoL in Ireland and Québec, Canada. Women with a diagnosis of BC were initially enrolled in the cohort study. HR-QoL was assessed during the pandemic (2020–2021) and post-pandemic periods (2022). COVID-19 stressor impact was computed post-pandemic, and change in HR-QoL during and post-pandemic was compared between Ireland and Québec using independent t-tests. Multivariable analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate the association between COVID-19 stressor impact and changes in HR-QoL, and compare it between Ireland and Québec. 405 participants were included from both settings (Ireland n = 267; Québec n = 138). The average HR-QoL improved from the COVID-19 pandemic to post-pandemic, and there were no differences between Ireland and Québec. Women with high COVID-19 stressor impact (18.9% of participants) had a significantly smaller improvement in their overall HR-QoL compared to those with low COVID-19 stressor impact, and this was evident in Ireland (p < 0.004) and Québec (p < 0.0001) but there were no significant differences between Ireland and Québec (interaction p-value > 0.05). Overall, HR-QoL for women with BC improved from pandemic to post-pandemic period. However, similarly in both settings, women who experienced higher levels of COVID-19-related stress had a slower recovery in HR-QoL. These results can guide decisions about health services and policies to adequately address the on-going effect of the pandemic and also prepare for future health crises. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8eeb2f89229a4d3895d8e9e0080f4a61 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-8eeb2f89229a4d3895d8e9e0080f4a612025-02-02T12:22:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-011511810.1038/s41598-024-84852-9Exploring health related quality of life for women with breast cancer in Ireland and Québec, Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemicCharlotte Myers0Kathleen Bennett1Caitriona Cahir2Josée Savard3Sophie Lauzier4School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesData Science Centre, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesData Science Centre, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesFaculty of Social Sciences, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Cancer Research Center, Université LavalFaculty of Pharmacy, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Cancer Research Center, Université LavalAbstract The long-term consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer (BC) is highly unknown, however persisting unmet needs and psychosocial difficulties are likely. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the change in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) from the pandemic to post-pandemic for women living with a diagnosis of BC and to assess the association between COVID-19 stressor impact and HR-QoL in Ireland and Québec, Canada. Women with a diagnosis of BC were initially enrolled in the cohort study. HR-QoL was assessed during the pandemic (2020–2021) and post-pandemic periods (2022). COVID-19 stressor impact was computed post-pandemic, and change in HR-QoL during and post-pandemic was compared between Ireland and Québec using independent t-tests. Multivariable analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate the association between COVID-19 stressor impact and changes in HR-QoL, and compare it between Ireland and Québec. 405 participants were included from both settings (Ireland n = 267; Québec n = 138). The average HR-QoL improved from the COVID-19 pandemic to post-pandemic, and there were no differences between Ireland and Québec. Women with high COVID-19 stressor impact (18.9% of participants) had a significantly smaller improvement in their overall HR-QoL compared to those with low COVID-19 stressor impact, and this was evident in Ireland (p < 0.004) and Québec (p < 0.0001) but there were no significant differences between Ireland and Québec (interaction p-value > 0.05). Overall, HR-QoL for women with BC improved from pandemic to post-pandemic period. However, similarly in both settings, women who experienced higher levels of COVID-19-related stress had a slower recovery in HR-QoL. These results can guide decisions about health services and policies to adequately address the on-going effect of the pandemic and also prepare for future health crises.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84852-9COVID-19Breast cancerPsychosocial stressorsQuality of lifeCross-country comparisonPsycho-oncology |
| spellingShingle | Charlotte Myers Kathleen Bennett Caitriona Cahir Josée Savard Sophie Lauzier Exploring health related quality of life for women with breast cancer in Ireland and Québec, Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic Scientific Reports COVID-19 Breast cancer Psychosocial stressors Quality of life Cross-country comparison Psycho-oncology |
| title | Exploring health related quality of life for women with breast cancer in Ireland and Québec, Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Exploring health related quality of life for women with breast cancer in Ireland and Québec, Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Exploring health related quality of life for women with breast cancer in Ireland and Québec, Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring health related quality of life for women with breast cancer in Ireland and Québec, Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Exploring health related quality of life for women with breast cancer in Ireland and Québec, Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | exploring health related quality of life for women with breast cancer in ireland and quebec canada throughout the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | COVID-19 Breast cancer Psychosocial stressors Quality of life Cross-country comparison Psycho-oncology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84852-9 |
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