Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Cancer Patients towards Covid-19 in Pakistan

A Cross-Sectional Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15511656
AuthorsSaadullah Khattak (0000-0001-6798-2991, Henan University), Muhammad Faheem (0009-0000-2274-6821, Allied Hospital), Bilawal Nawaz (Nishtar Medical College and Hospital), Maqbool Khan (0000-0001-7656-0184, Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology), Nazeer Hussain Khan (0000-0003-4380-233X, Henan University), Nadeem Ullah (0000-0001-9602-0900, Karolinska Institutet), Taj Ali Khan (0000-0002-0851-0422, Khyber Medical University), Rahat Ullah Khan (0000-0002-7109-6201, Gomal University), Kashif Syed Haleem (0000-0003-0919-2726, Hazara University), Zhiguang Ren (0000-0002-4011-5334, Henan University, corresponding author), Zhi-Guang Ren (Institutes of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China), Dongdong Wu (0000-0003-2368-2035, Henan University, corresponding author), Dong-Dong Wu (Henan University), Xin‐Ying Ji (0000-0003-0690-4206, Henan University, corresponding author), Xin-Ying Ji (Henan University)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue13
Pages7926-7926
Publication date2022-06-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19137926
PMID35805584
OpenAlexW4283704800
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited81

Background: Cancer patients, being immunocompromised, are at higher risk of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The current study determines cancer patients’ knowledge, attitude, perception, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Pakistan from 1 April 2020 to 1 May 2020. The study respondents were cancer patients with ages equal to or greater than 18 years. Following a request for participation, the URL for the survey was distributed on numerous channels. Other social media platforms, including WeChat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Messenger, and LinkedIn, were used to increase cancer patient interaction. The questionnaire comprised five different sections such as: (1) sociodemographic information, (2) knowledge, (3) attitude, (4) perception, and (5) impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients. Descriptive medical statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to illustrate the demographic characteristics of the study participants. To compare mean knowledge scores with selected demographic variables, independent sample t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used, which are also practical methods in epidemiological, public health and medical research. The cut-off point for statistical significance was set at a p-value of 0.05. Results: More than 300 cancer patients were invited, of which 208 agreed to take part. The response rate was 69.33% (208/300). Gender, marital status, and employment status had a significant association with knowledge scores. Of the total recruited participants, 96% (n = 200) (p < 0.01) knew about COVID-19, and 90% were aware of general symptoms of COVID-19 disease, such as route of transmission and preventive measurements. In total, 94.5% (n = 197) (p < 0.01) were willing to accept isolation if they were infected with COVID-19, and 98% (n = 204) (p < 0.01) had reduced their use of public transportation. More than 90% (n = 188) (p < 0.01) of cancer patients were found to be practicing preventative measures such as using a face mask, keeping social distance, and avoiding handshaking and hugging. Around 94.4% (n = 196) (p < 0.01) of cancer patients had been impacted by, stopped or had changed cancer treatment during this pandemic, resulting in COVID-related anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The included cancer patients exhibited a good level of COVID-19 knowledge, awareness, positive attitude, and perception. Large-scale studies and efforts are needed to raise COVID-19 awareness among less educated and high-risk populations. The present survey indicates that mass-level effective health education initiatives are required for developing countries to improve and reduce the gap between KAP and COVID-19

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Cancer · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Cross-sectional study · Disease · Environmental health · Outbreak · Pathology · Perception · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · COVID-19 and healthcare impacts · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Infection Control and Ventilation · Medicine · Psychology · Internal Medicine · Virology

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