Tumorpatienten und onkologisches Personal während der Pandemie: Onlinebefragungen und Interviews zu psychosozialen Belastungen

The spread of the SARS-CoV‑2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2), which has been prevalent since 2020, has had far-reaching consequences. There were also unforeseeable changes for cancer patients and oncology health care workers in Germany. The aim of the presented projects was to explore the effects of the pandemic on these people more closely. Online questionnaires and interviews that were released or carried out during the COVID (coronavirus disease) waves in 2020 and 2021 were used for this purpose. Almost 1000 patients and 900 professional helpers took part in the survey. In addition, 20 people were interviewed. It becomes clear that clinical care has adapted to the new requirements over time. Aspects such as visiting bans or the obligation to wear masks became normal. At the same time, the frustration and stress on the part of the oncology staff increased significantly from wave to wave. Subsequent projects showed that mental coping strategies and physical activity decreased among patients during the second wave. To counteract this, virtual projects including scientifically based knowledge transfer and movement were launched. The developments shown are alarming. They speak for the urgency of preventing helpers from leaving the healthcare system on the one hand, and providing them with more support and relief on the other. Patients must also receive further digital training and be protected from being left alone.