{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,29]],"date-time":"2026-08-29T00:41:21Z","timestamp":1787964081845,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,16]],"date-time":"2025-02-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1739664000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Cancers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruptions in oncology care, significantly affecting both the quality of life (QoL) and mental health of cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term impacts of the pandemic on oncology patients, focusing on the periods before, during, and after the pandemic. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the changes in QoL, illness acceptance, and mental health indicators, including the risk of depression, generalized anxiety, elevated stress levels, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among oncology patients, comparing these factors across the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. Material and Methods: This study included 2000 oncology patients, divided into three cohorts based on the time of assessment: pre-pandemic (2019, n = 600), during the pandemic (2020\u20132021, n = 800), and post-pandemic (2023, n = 600). This study included a balanced sample of 52% female and 48% male participants, with a mean age of 58 years (SD = 11.9), representing a wide range of cancer types including breast (25.7%), lung (20.9%), and colorectal cancer (14.8%). Additional demographics showed a mean BMI of 25.8, with varied educational levels, marital statuses, income levels, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. QoL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30, while the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to measure depression and anxiety. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) was used to evaluate PTSD symptoms, and stress levels were measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Statistical analyses were conducted using ANOVA and chi-square tests to assess differences between the groups. Results: During the pandemic, the prevalence of depression symptoms rose significantly, from 15% pre-pandemic to 32% (p &lt; 0.001), while the risk of generalized anxiety increased from 18% to 40% (p &lt; 0.001). Stress levels also saw a sharp rise, with 45% of patients reporting elevated stress during the pandemic compared to 22% before (p &lt; 0.001). The rate of PTSD symptoms increased from 10% pre-pandemic to 28% during the pandemic (p &lt; 0.001). QoL scores dropped markedly, with the mean EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status score decreasing by 25% during the pandemic (p &lt; 0.01). Illness acceptance declined, with 60% of patients reporting poor acceptance during the pandemic, compared to 35% before. In the post-pandemic period, a slight improvement was observed across all measures. Depression levels dropped to 28% (p &lt; 0.05 compared to the pandemic period), and anxiety levels decreased to 35% (p &lt; 0.05). Stress and PTSD symptoms also showed modest reductions, with 38% reporting elevated stress and 22% exhibiting PTSD symptoms (p &lt; 0.05). However, these post-pandemic values remained significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels (p &lt; 0.001). QoL improved marginally, with a 10% increase in the global health status score compared to the pandemic period, though it remained lower than pre-pandemic scores (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the mental health and QoL of oncology patients, with significant increases in depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD symptoms, along with a decrease in QoL and illness acceptance. While post-pandemic recovery trends are apparent, the psychological burden remains elevated compared to pre-pandemic conditions. These findings highlight the need for continued mental health support and interventions for oncology patients, even after the immediate pandemic effects have subsided.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers17040662","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,17]],"date-time":"2025-02-17T11:31:17Z","timestamp":1739791877000},"page":"662","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["COVID-19 Pandemic Conditions Affecting QoL and Mental Health of Oncology Patients in Poland"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Eliza","family":"Dzia\u0142ach","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7676-1477","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ewa","family":"Malchrowicz-Mo\u015bko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Tourism and Recreation, Faculty of Physical Education, J\u00f3zef Pi\u0142sudski University of Physical Education, 00-968 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5955-0790","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mateusz","family":"Rozmiarek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sports Tourism, Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jolanta","family":"Meller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pawe\u0142","family":"Juraszek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"El\u017cbieta","family":"Nowara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Sciences, Jan Dlugosz University of Humanities and Natural Sciences, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"El\u017cbieta","family":"Czech","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6605-7646","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Piotr","family":"Nowaczyk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Breast Surgical Oncology Department, Breast Cancer Unit, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6588-8598","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mateusz","family":"Grajek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e936","DOI":"10.1634\/theoncologist.2020-0213","article-title":"A practical approach to the management of cancer patients during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: An international collaborative group","volume":"25","author":"Alhazzani","year":"2020","journal-title":"Oncologist"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"268","DOI":"10.1038\/s41571-020-0362-6","article-title":"Cancer, COVID-19, and the precautionary principle: Prioritizing treatment during a global pandemic","volume":"17","author":"Hanna","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Clin. Oncol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"335","DOI":"10.1016\/S1470-2045(20)30096-6","article-title":"Cancer patients in SARS-CoV-2 infection: A nationwide analysis in China","volume":"21","author":"Liang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet Oncol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1059","DOI":"10.1200\/CCI.20.00134","article-title":"Impact of COVID-19 on cancer care: How the pandemic is delaying cancer diagnosis and treatment for American seniors","volume":"4","author":"Patt","year":"2020","journal-title":"JCO Clin. Cancer Inform."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1035","DOI":"10.1016\/S1470-2045(20)30392-2","article-title":"Effect of delays in the 2-week-wait cancer referral pathway during the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer survival in the UK: A modelling study","volume":"21","author":"Sud","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet Oncol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"m4087","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.m4087","article-title":"Mortality due to cancer treatment delay: Systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"371","author":"Hanna","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102274","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejon.2023.102274","article-title":"Psychosocial adjustment and its influencing factors among head and neck cancer survivors after radiotherapy: A cross-sectional study","volume":"63","author":"Wen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur. J. Oncol. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21408","DOI":"10.1002\/cam4.6688","article-title":"The role of illness-related cognition in the relationships between resilience and depression\/anxiety in nasopharyngeal cancer patients","volume":"12","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cancer Med."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"453","DOI":"10.1097\/NCC.0000000000000847","article-title":"Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity, Walking Speed, Lack of Participation in Leisure Activities, and Lung Cancer Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies","volume":"44","author":"Lee","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cancer Nurs."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kenis, I., Theys, S., Hermie, E., Foulon, V., and Van Hecke, A. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 on the Organization of Cancer Care in Belgium: Lessons Learned for the (Post-)Pandemic Future. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph191912456"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"889","DOI":"10.1016\/0277-9536(84)90158-8","article-title":"Stress and coping in the explanation of psychological adjustment among chronically ill adults","volume":"18","author":"Felton","year":"1984","journal-title":"Soc. Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Muhanna, N., Eu, D., Chan, H.H.L., Douglas, C., Townson, J.L., Di Grappa, M.A., Mohamadi, R.M., Kelley, S.O., Bratman, S.V., and Irish, J.C. (2021). Cell-free DNA and circulating tumor cell kinetics in a pre-clinical head and neck Cancer model undergoing radiation therapy. BMC Cancer, 21.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12885-021-08791-8"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1573","DOI":"10.31557\/APJCP.2020.21.6.1573","article-title":"Assessing CD 10 Expression Level and Its Prognostic Impact in Egyptian Patients with Urothelial Carcinoma","volume":"21","author":"Hussien","year":"2020","journal-title":"Asian Pac. J. Cancer Prev."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"147","article-title":"Outcome of COVID-19 infection in cancer patients during active systemic anticancer treatment. Single-institution experience. A retrospective analysis","volume":"25","author":"Nowara","year":"2021","journal-title":"Contemp. Oncol. (Pozn)"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Grajek, M., Krupa-Kotara, K., Rozmiarek, M., Sobczyk, K., Dzia\u0142ach, E., G\u00f3rski, M., and Kobza, J. (2022). The Level of COVID-19 Anxiety among Oncology Patients in Poland. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph191811418"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"\u0141askawiec, D., Grajek, M., Szlacheta, P., and Korzonek-Szlacheta, I. (2022). Post-Pandemic Stress Disorder as an Effect of the Epidemiological Situation Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare10060975"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Grajek, M., and Bia\u0142ek-Dratwa, A. (2022). The Impact of the Epidemiological Situation Resulting from COVID-19 Pandemic on Selected Aspects of Mental Health Among Patients with Cancer-Silesia Province (Poland). Front. Psychol., 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.857326"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.12740\/PP\/OnlineFirst\/139019","article-title":"Well-being and depressive symptoms among corporate employees during the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"57","author":"Grajek","year":"2023","journal-title":"Psychiatr. Pol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1093\/jnci\/85.5.365","article-title":"The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30: A quality-of-life instrument for use in international clinical trials in oncology","volume":"85","author":"Aaronson","year":"1993","journal-title":"J. Natl. Cancer Inst."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"788","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclinepi.2007.08.015","article-title":"The relationship between overall QoL and its subdimensions was influenced by culture: Analysis of an international database","volume":"61","author":"Scott","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Clin. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-006X.52.3.343","article-title":"Coping with chronic illness: A study of illness controllability and the influence of coping strategies on psychological adjustment","volume":"52","author":"Felton","year":"1984","journal-title":"J. Consult. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x","article-title":"The hospital anxiety and depression scale","volume":"67","author":"Zigmond","year":"1983","journal-title":"Acta Psychiatr. Scand."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.2307\/2136404","article-title":"A Global Measure of Perceived Stress","volume":"24","author":"Cohen","year":"1983","journal-title":"J. Health Soc. Behav."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Weathers, F.W., Litz, B.T., Keane, T.M., Palmieri, P.A., Marx, B.P., and Schnurr, P.P. (2013). The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)\u2013Standard [Measurement Instrument]."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"540","DOI":"10.1177\/0193945910382241","article-title":"Predictors of psychosocial adjustment during the postradiation treatment transition","volume":"33","author":"Mazanec","year":"2011","journal-title":"West. J. Nurs. Res."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"369","DOI":"10.1097\/NCC.0000000000000830","article-title":"Observing the Implementation of Shared Decision-making in Routine Radiotherapy Cancer Nursing: An Explorative Longitudinal Questionnaire Study","volume":"44","author":"Efverman","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cancer Nurs."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"396","DOI":"10.1037\/hea0001181","article-title":"Psychological outcomes in advanced cancer patients after receiving genomic tumor profiling results","volume":"41","author":"Vatter","year":"2022","journal-title":"Health Psychol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhao, W., Cui, M., Zhang, R., Shen, X., Xiong, X., Ji, X., Tao, L., Jia, W., Pang, L., and Sun, Z. (2021). IFITM1, CD10, SMA, and h-caldesmon as a helpful combination in differential diagnosis between endometrial stromal tumor and cellular leiomyoma. BMC Cancer, 21.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12885-021-08781-w"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6578","DOI":"10.1200\/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.6578","article-title":"Associations between patient knowledge of others\u2019 experiences and treatment choice in men with localized prostate cancer","volume":"39","author":"Katz","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Clin. Oncol."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"Raka, Z. (2024, November 17). Kluczowa Rola Psychoonkologa w Opiece Onkologicznej. Available online: https:\/\/www.zwrotnikraka.pl\/rola-psychoonkologa-w-opiece-onkologicznej\/."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Medme.pl (2024, November 17). Psychoonkologia\u2014Czym Jest i Jak\u0105 Rol\u0119 Pe\u0142ni Psychoonkolog?. Available online: https:\/\/www.medme.pl\/artykuly\/psychoonkologia-czym-jest-i-jaka-role-pelni-terapeuta."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Puls Medycyny (2024, November 17). Koordynator od Dzi\u015b w Ka\u017cdym O\u015brodku Onkologicznym. Available online: https:\/\/pulsmedycyny.pl\/koordynator-od-dzis-w-kazdym-osrodku-onkologicznym-1185946\/."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"Ministerstwo Zdrowia (2024, November 17). Krajowa Sie\u0107 Onkologiczna, Available online: https:\/\/www.gov.pl\/web\/zdrowie\/krajowa-siec-onkologiczna."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Malchrowicz-Mo\u015bko, E., Nowaczyk, P., Wasiewicz, J., Urbaniak, T., Siejak, W., Rozmiarek, M., Czerniak, U., Demuth, A., Aguirre-Betolaza, A., and Castaneda-Babarro, A. (2023). The level of kinesiophobia in breast cancer women undergoing surgical treatment. Front. Oncol., 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fonc.2023.1010315"}],"container-title":["Cancers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6694\/17\/4\/662\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T16:35:27Z","timestamp":1760027727000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6694\/17\/4\/662"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,16]]},"references-count":34,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["cancers17040662"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/cancers17040662","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6694"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6694","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,16]]}}}