• Kaoswi K Shih, Adrienne B Arechiga, Xi Chen, Diana L Urbauer, De MoraesAline RozmanARDepartment of Palliative (K.K.S., A.B.A., A.R.D.M., A.J.R., L.T., P.A.S., E.B., D.H.), Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA., Ashley J Rodriguez, Lisa Thomas, Penny A Stanton, Eduardo Bruera, and David Hui.
• Department of Palliative (K.K.S., A.B.A., A.R.D.M., A.J.R., L.T., P.A.S., E.B., D.H.), Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
• J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Oct 1; 66 (4): 328337.e2328-337.e2.

ContextThe COVID-19 pandemic represents a source of distress in patients with advanced cancer; however, few studies have examined the extent of pandemic-related distress in the postvaccine era.ObjectivesWe conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine pandemic-related distress among patients seen by palliative care after vaccine availability.MethodsPatients at our palliative care clinic were surveyed from April 2021 to March 2022 regarding 1) pandemic-related distress level, 2) potential contributors to pandemic-related distress, 3) coping strategies, 4) demographic factors and symptom burden. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified factors associated with pandemic-related distress.ResultsA total of 200 patients completed the survey. Of 79 (40%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 33%, 46%) reported worse pandemic-related distress. Patients who reported greater distress were more likely to report worse social isolation (67 [86%] vs. 52 [43%]), staying home more often (75 [95%] vs. 95 [79%]), more negative experience staying at home (26 [33%] vs. 11 [9%]), worse stress with child-care duties (14 [19%] vs. 4 [3%]), less seeing family/friends (63 [81%] vs. 72 [60%]), and more difficulty traveling to medical appointments (27 [35%] vs. 20 [17%]). Thirty-seven patients (19%) reported more difficulty getting medical appointments. In multivariable analysis, younger age (odds ratio [OR], 0.97; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99; P = 0.01), worse isolation status (OR, 6.87; 95% CI, 2.76-17.12; P < 0.001), and more negative attitude towards staying home (OR, 4.49; 95% CI, 1.6-12.57; P = 0.004) were associated with pandemic-related distress.ConclusionsPatients with advanced cancer continued to experience pandemic-related distress in the postvaccine era. Our findings highlight potential opportunities to support patients.Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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