Abstract

Study objectives

Given the uncertainty COVID-19 has caused for individuals with prior medical conditions, we examined the extent to which cancer survivors consider themselves at risk for the global COVID-19 pandemic (henceforth COVID), both in general and due to their cancer history. Additionally, we evaluated whether perceived vulnerability to COVID among cancer survivors predicts their cognitive/affective and behavioral responses to the pandemic.

Design/sample

Cancer survivors who completed primary cancer treatment (median months since treatment = 33.00) and were enrolled in prior behavioral trials with our research team (N = 146) completed two surveys in May-July 2020 (95.89% retention).

Methods

Participants rated perceived next-year risk of infection and of dying from COVID. We adapted established scales to assess perceived vulnerability to COVID generally versus as a cancer survivor, catastrophizing about possible COVID symptoms, COVID-related contamination fears, and adherence to COVID prevention behaviors.

Findings

In May 2020, on a 1-100 scale with 0 = no chance and 100 = definitely will occur, cancer survivors reported a chance in the next year of contracting COVID of M = 39.94 (SD = 23.90), and dying from COVID of M = 24.46 (SD = 24.84). Cancer survivors reported somewhat greater vulnerability to COVID compared to same-aged peers, increased contamination fears, and high adherence to COVID prevention measures. Similar findings emerged six weeks later, suggesting stability over time. In simple linear regression models, both general and cancer survivor-specific perceived COVID vulnerability predicted COVID symptom catastrophizing and contamination fears; in multivariable models, only general vulnerability remained a significant predictor. General perceived vulnerability and contamination fears predicted greater adherence to COVID prevention behaviors.

Conclusions

Cancer survivors perceived elevated vulnerability to COVID even years after treatment, which predicted adherence to COVID prevention behaviors. Future research should identify the optimal balance between supporting cancer survivors’ concerns and minimizing negative impacts on quality of life.

中文翻译：

---

癌症幸存者对 COVID-19 的感知脆弱性及其对大流行的认知、情感和行为反应的影响

摘要

学习目标

鉴于 COVID-19 给患有既往疾病的个人带来的不确定性，我们研究了癌症幸存者认为自己面临全球 COVID-19 大流行（以下简称“新冠肺炎”）风险的程度，无论是一般情况还是由于其癌症病史。此外，我们还评估了癌症幸存者对新冠病毒的脆弱性是否可以预测他们对这一流行病的认知/情感和行为反应。

设计/样品

完成主要癌症治疗（治疗后中位月数 = 33.00）并参加我们研究团队先前行为试验的癌症幸存者 ( N  = 146) 在 2020 年 5 月至 7 月完成了两项调查（保留率 95.89%）。

方法

参与者评估了明年感染新冠病毒和死亡的风险。我们采用了既定的量表来评估一般人与癌症幸存者相比对新冠病毒的脆弱性，对可能的新冠病毒症状、与新冠病毒相关的污染恐惧以及对新冠病毒预防行为的遵守情况进行了灾难性的分析。

发现

2020 年 5 月，按照 1-100 分制，0 = 没有机会，100 = 肯定会发生，癌症幸存者报告明年感染新冠病毒的机会为 M = 39.94 (SD = 23.90  ) ， 并死于新冠病毒M = 23.90  = 24.46（标准差 = 24.84）。与同龄人相比，癌症幸存者更容易感染新冠病毒，对污染的恐惧也有所增加，并且对新冠病毒预防措施的遵守程度较高。六周后出现了类似的发现，表明随着时间的推移保持稳定。在简单的线性回归模型中，一般和癌症幸存者特定的感知到的新冠病毒脆弱性都预测了新冠病毒症状的灾难性和污染恐惧；在多变量模型中，只有一般脆弱性仍然是重要的预测因素。人们普遍认为的脆弱性和污染恐惧预示着人们会更加遵守新冠病毒预防行为。

结论

即使在治疗数年后，癌症幸存者仍认为自己对新冠病毒的脆弱性有所增加，这预示着他们会坚持新冠病毒预防行为。未来的研究应该确定支持癌症幸存者的担忧和尽量减少对生活质量的负面影响之间的最佳平衡。