COVID-19 and Mental Health (CMH) Initiative: Research

Strategies to support the mental health of diverse patients waiting for procedures delayed by COVID-19: A scoping review

Key messages

  • Waiting for procedures caused anxiety and depression among patients and caregivers, which increased over time, and reduced quality of life and trust in the healthcare system
  • Mental health impact of waiting may be greater among women and new immigrants, and those of younger age, lower socioeconomic status, or with less-positive coping ability or longer wait times
  • Educational strategies aimed to improve coping, but did not always reduce anxiety or depression
  • Patients instead recommended peer moral support, and periodic updates of the reason for delay, wait list position, rules for patient selection, and procedure date

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Elective procedures
  • Waiting lists
  • Delays
  • Mental health
  • Anxiety
  • Interventions
  • Implementation
  • Scoping review

Author(s)

  • Nominated Principal Applicant: Anna R Gagliardi, University Health Network
  • Robin Green (University Health Network)
  • Susan Abbey (University Health Network)
  • Donna E Stewart (University Health Network)

For more information, please contact: Anna R Gagliardi, anna.gagliardi@uhnresearch.ca

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Population

Chronic Disease and/or Mental Illness, General Population

Language

To ensure the rapid dissemination of this critical information, information is published in the language in which it was submitted. Please contact us for French or English translations.

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