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Life sciences · Journal article
Current Oncology · August 17, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This cross-sectional survey documents cancer patients' self-reported experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, showing that treatment schedules remained largely unchanged (77.1%) and trust in healthcare remained high (83.4%), despite elevated psychological burden. The study is descriptive and explores patient perceptions rather than testing clinical hypotheses or measuring treatment outcomes; it provides real-world context but does not establish causal relationships or guide clinical practice.
Exploratory cross-sectional multicenter survey. Patients with gynecological malignancies and breast cancer at gynecological oncology centers in Germany; inclusion criteria met by 778 patients; median age 59 years, range 24–93 years.. n = 778. Gynecological oncology centers in Germany.
Treatment schedules remained unchanged in 77.1% of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic Treatment appointments were modified in 9.0% of patients 83.4% of patients maintained trust in the healthcare system
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Clinicians may find value in understanding that most cancer patients maintained stable treatment access and high trust in healthcare during the pandemic, but the survey's descriptive nature does not provide actionable evidence to change practice. The finding of elevated psychological burden in younger patients suggests attention to mental health support in crisis settings, though this requires confirmation from hypothesis-driven studies.
A descriptive cross-sectional survey of patient-reported perceptions without a control group, comparator, or hypothesis testing; provides real-world insight into cancer patient experience during COVID-19 but lacks analytical rigour to support clinical decision-making.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Clinicians may find value in understanding that most cancer patients maintained stable treatment access and high trust in healthcare during the pandemic, but the survey's descriptive nature does not provide actionable evidence to change practice. The finding of elevated psychological burden in younger patients suggests attention to mental health support in crisis settings, though this requires confirmation from hypothesis-driven studies.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic was a major challenge for healthcare systems and social life worldwide. During the pandemic, studies focused on examining structural changes in patient care and establishing new guidelines to manage COVID-19, but very few of them addressed patients’ perceptions and concerns regarding changes in cancer treatment during the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the changes in their therapy situation during three waves of the pandemic and the impact on their social life. Methods: This exploratory cross-sectional multicenter survey was conducted among patients with gynecological malignancies and breast cancer at gynecological oncology centers in Germany between October 2020 and February 2022. An anonymous paper-based 50-item questionnaire, available in German, assessed medical care, treatment modifications, mental health, and socioeconomic burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed descriptively. Two subgroup analyses were conducted, comparing age groups ≤70 and >70 years, as well as patients with and without a migrant background. Results: Overall, 778 patients met the inclusion criteria of the survey (median age: 59; range: 24–93). In the majority of the patients (77.1%), the treatment schedules remained unchanged during COVID-19 pandemic. Treatment appointments were modified in a small number of patients (9.0%). Changes in therapy schedules were slightly more common among the second- and third-generation migrants and among patients ≤70 years. Despite the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, most patients (83.4%) kept their trust in the healthcare system. Acceptance of preventive measures was high, and 85.9% were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Psychological symptoms such as worries and fear were reported by more than half of the participants during the last 2 weeks previous to the survey and more common among patients ≤70 years. Only 8.6% were more afraid of a COVID-19 infection than their cancer disease. Conclusions: Despite major challenges in cancer care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, access to cancer treatment and adequate management at gynecological oncology centers in Germany remained stable. The increased psychological burden in crises requires new infrastructure and should be addressed to improve patient care in future crises. The acceptance of taking preventive measures against COVID-19 was high among cancer patients.
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