• Melissa K Frey, Eloise Chapman-Davis, Shannon M Glynn, Jenny Lin, Annie E Ellis, Shannon Tomita, Rana Khan Fowlkes, Charlene Thomas, Paul J Christos, Evelyn Cantillo, Kristen Zeligs, Kevin Holcomb, and Stephanie V Blank.
• Weill Cornell Medicine, 525 East 68ths Street, 10065 New York, NY, United States. Electronic address: mkf2002@med.cornell.edu.
• Gynecol. Oncol. 2021 Feb 1; 160 (2): 492-498.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented challenges for people living with cancer, impacting not only physical health but psychological well-being. The psychological response affects the individual as well as the community and can persist long after the outbreak. We aim to assess coping strategies employed by women with ovarian cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWomen with a current or prior diagnosis of ovarian cancer completed an online survey which included a query about coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was distributed from March 30th through April 13, 2020 through survivor networks and social media.ResultsSix hundred and three women visited the survey website during the study period and 555 (92.0%) completed the survey. Four hundred and eight (73.5%) provided information on coping strategies utilized during COVID-19. Among those who responded, the median age was 58 years (range 20-85) and 150 participants (40.8%) were undergoing active cancer treatment. Commonly utilized adaptive coping strategies included emotional support (159, 39.0%), self care (148, 36.3%), hobbies (139, 34.1%), planning (87, 21.3%), positive reframing (54, 13.2%), religion (50, 12.3%) and instrumental support (38, 9.3%). Many participants also relied on avoidance coping strategies including self distraction (111, 27.2%) and substance use (19, 4.7%).ConclusionsMost ovarian cancer survivors are using adaptive, problem-focused coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic, however many are practicing avoidance strategies as well. As coping mechanisms profoundly impact quality of life, oncology providers must assist patients in identifying coping strategies that optimize physical and psychological well-being.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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