A recent study provides insights on the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on employment, anxiety and financial distress among women who have gynecologic cancer and low income.

For the study, Y. Stefanie Chen and her team from the Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City conducted telephonic interviews with 100 women with gynecologic cancer living in New York City who were covered by Medicaid health insurance.

The following insights have been showed in the major findings: - 50 percent of the patients reported feeling more financial stress since the start of the pandemic, while 54 percent said they worry about future financial problems due to the pandemic, while 83 percent expressed feeling increased anxiety in general. And 49 percent of patients expressed increased anxiety about cancer since the start of the pandemic.

Having an income of less than USD 40,000 per year was the most common factor associated with increased financial distress, cancer worry, and anxiety. Early-stage cancer (stage I-II) was also a risk factor for increased financial distress.
“Patients with cancer are already financially vulnerable as many face changes in employment status when they undergo treatment, and also because cancer treatments can become costly as they accrue over time,” said Dr. Chen.
 

New Study suggests the Use of Antiseptic Throat Spray could Curb COVID-19 Spread

Covid-19 Second Wave: Consensus Helps Crisis Management

Can smoke?: CSIR survey reveals Sero-positivity 'lower' in smokers and vegetarians