HSR23-113: Patient and Provider Perspectives on How COVID-19 Impacted Melanoma Care Delivery

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extensive disruptions to healthcare delivery, including cancer care. Immediate and long-term effects of the pandemic on melanoma care delivery have not been well elucidated. This study examined patient and provider experiences with and perspectives on the pandemic’s impact on melanoma care delivery. Methods: Semi-structed interviews were conducted from December 2021 to May 2022 with patients diagnosed with melanoma before January 2020 and oncologists who treat melanoma patients. Treatment experiences before and during the pandemic, including the immediate and extended impacts of COVID-19, were explored. Thematic analysis was used to identify key considerations and impacts. Results: Twenty-four patients (mean age 50.8 years [SD=12]; 75% female; 70.8% current stage IV), and six oncologists (mean age 51.2 years [SD=11.4]; 16.7% female) participated. Patients and providers described various impacts of the pandemic on melanoma care delivery, including reduced access to social supports, barriers to physically accessing care, delays or changes to treatment plans, an uptake in telehealth, and diminished mental health. However, they diverged on the importance of these impacts. Patients emphasized that their caregiver’s restricted access to appointments contributed to mental health impacts, including feeling scared, anxious, depressed, and isolated. Although most patients experienced minimal disruptions to their treatment plans, providers described numerous delays and changes, along with concerns about access to sufficient healthcare resources and personnel. Patient and provider recommendations for melanoma care delivery throughout the pandemic included improving patient-provider communication, particularly when communication channels change (eg, adoption of telehealth), quickly adapting to ensure patient access to care (eg, expanding hours of infusion centers), adding additional staff and resources to be better equipped to handle pandemic-related protocols, and educating patients on pandemic-related considerations for their care. Conclusion: This study highlighted how access to melanoma care evolved throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and providers described decreased access to healthcare resources and support systems, as well as impacts on mental health and changes in technology utilization. Future studies should evaluate how pandemic-related care impacts have affected long-term treatment outcomes.