Dados do Trabalho

Título

PSYCHIC RISK IN ONCOLOGICAL PATIENTS IN GENERAL HOSPITAL: WHAT CHANGED BEFORE AND DURING THE PANDEMIC?

Introdução

The presence of the first cases of COVID-19 to the institution brought uncertainties, although the need to pay attention to the care of cancer patients and their psychological suffering[5], understanding that cancer disease implies changes, raising doubts, insecurities, high prevalence of anxiety, depression and distress.[2] Thus, studies propose psychological risk screening instruments as a care routine, requiring a joint multidisciplinary effort.[1,2,3]

Objetivo

To describe the prevalence of psychic risk in cancer patients and its correlated variables within the total sample of a general hospital before and during the coronavirus pandemic.

Método

Identification of Psychic Risk in cancer patients classified according to the institutional protocol (which consists of an instrument for screening psychic manifestations, classifying the risk as moderate, severe and very serious), in the period from July to December 2019 compared to the same period in 2020.

Resultado

Data demonstrate maintenance of the percentage of patients classified in both periods (27%); with a prevalence of elderly (46%) in 2020, to the detriment of adults who were the majority in 2019 (45%), corroborating the literature that suggests a higher prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in these age groups [2]. The survey observed a predominance of psychic risk in men in 2019/2020 (51% and 57%), which differs from what the studies present, however, it can be inferred that this data is related to the sensitivity of the protocol in including family members in the risk criteria.[2,3] On the other hand, the dominant classification was of moderate risk in both periods (70% and 76%), more related to aspects of anxiety and sadness, however, there is a growth of 9% in the very serious risk, associated with suicidal behaviour in 2020, which may indicate impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of patients. With regard to the predominant type of cancer in the drives, hematological ones were the majority in 2019/2020 (25% and 18%), however, with regard to solid neoplasms, lung cancer was more prevalent in the two years, followed by pancreas in 2019 (7%) and breast in 2020 (7%), corroborating the studies in cancer patients.[2,4]

Conclusão

It was observed that the data before and during the pandemic are similar, although there is an increase in cases of very serious psychic risk in cancer patients, inferring that the pandemic seems to have an impact on the emotional suffering of these patients, requiring further studies on this theme.

Palavras-chave

psychic risk; pandemic; psychooncology

Área

Oncologia - Psico-oncologia