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Simple Summary: Although the acute phase of cancer treatment has ended, many survivors continue to experience lingering effects that can negatively impact their quality of life for up to 25 years after diagnosis. Approximately three quarters of these individuals encounter long-term sequelae. We investigated the experience of Swiss cancer survivors regarding health-related information and healthcare system. The Swiss healthcare system remains inadequately prepared to support cancer survivors. The current landscape of supportive care is fragmented and lacks a cohesive strategy for systematic needs assessment and tailored care plans. Gaining insights into the experiences and needs of cancer survivors in Switzerland is crucial for the development of comprehensive survivorship guidelines, which are currently lacking. Such guidelines would enhance service integration and promote a holistic approach to cancer care, ensuring that all survivors receive the necessary ongoing support throughout their recovery journey. Background/Objectives: In recent years, the number of cancer survivors has rapidly increased in Switzerland, as well as worldwide. As cancer increasingly becomes a chronic condition, numerous bio-psycho-social and spiritual challenges emerge, leading to significant needs for this population. The aims of this study were to determine the experiences of Swiss cancer survivors with two domains, i.e., health-related information and healthcare systems, and their risk factors, and to see whether these experiences align with the needs identified in the literature. Methods: Data from the cross-sectional multicentred survey Swiss Cancer Patient Experiences were analysed. A total of 1870 adult Swiss cancer survivors were included in the analysis. For each domain, an overall score ranging between 0 (poor experience) and 10 (excellent experience) was constructed including 11 and 10 questions, respectively. The questions that highlighted non-positive experiences by patients were grouped to calculate so-called "problematic" scores for each domain; linear and logistic regressions were conducted to identify the variables influencing these problematic scores needs. Results: The mean overall and "problematic" scores were 7.5 (SD 2.6) and 6.8 (SD 3.2), respectively, for health-related information, and 8.0 (SD 2.4) and 7.0 (SD 3.6), respectively, for the healthcare system. Four variables were found to be associated with the problematic scores: geographical location, foregoing care, self-assessed health, and level of health literacy. Conclusions: Swiss cancer survivors reported problematic experiences in the domains of information and healthcare systems which could lead to unmet needs. The systematic assessment of these needs is recommended to improve patients' experiences and provide more effective and supportive follow-up care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hospitalized patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 should recover within a few weeks. However, even those with mild versions can experience symptoms lasting 4 weeks or longer. These post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) comprise various new, returning, or ongoing symptoms that can last for months or years and cause disability. Few studies have investigated PCC using self-reports from discharged patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 to complement clinical and biomarker studies., Objective: This study aimed to investigate self-reported, persistent PCC among patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 who were discharged during the second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: We designed, pretested, and posted an ad hoc paper questionnaire to all eligible inpatients discharged between October 2020 and April 2021. At 4 months post discharge, we collected data on PCC and scores for the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), a Brief Memory Screening Scale (Q3PC), and a posttraumatic stress disorder scale (PCL-5). Descriptive, inferential, and multivariate linear regression statistics assessed PCC symptomatology, associations, and differences regarding sociodemographic characteristics and hospital length of stay (LOS). We examined whether our variables of interest significantly predicted MFI scores., Results: Of the 1993 valid questionnaires returned, 245 were from discharged patients with SARS-CoV-2 (median age 71, IQR 62.7-77 years). Only 28.2% (69/245) of respondents were symptom-free after 4 months. Women had significantly more persistent PCC symptoms than men (P≤.001). Patients with a hospital LOS ≥11 days had more PCC symptoms as well (P<.001)-women had more symptoms and longer LOS. No significant differences were found between age groups (18-64, 65-74, and ≥75 years old; P=.50) or between intensive care units and other hospitalization units (P=.09). Patients self-reported significantly higher PHQ-4 scores during their hospitalization than at 4 months later (P<.001). Three-fourth (187/245, 76.4%) of the respondents reported memory loss and concentration disorders (Q3PC). No significant differences in the median MFI score (56, IQR 1-3, range 50-60]) were associated with sociodemographic variables. Patients with a hospital LOS of ≥11 days had a significantly higher median PCL-5 score (P<.001). Multivariate linear regression allowed us to calculate that the combination of PHQ-4, Q3PC, and PCL-5 scores, adjusted for age, sex, and LOS (of either ≥11 days [median 2 symptoms, IQR 1-5] or <11 days), did not significantly predict MFI scores (R 2 =0.09; F 4,7 =1.5; P=.22; adjusted R 2 =0.06)., Conclusions: The majority of inpatients infected with SARS-CoV-2 presented with PCC 4 months after discharge, with complex clinical pictures. Only one-third of them were symptom-free during that time. Based on our findings, MFI scores were not directly related to self-reported depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic scores adjusted for age, sex, or LOS. Further research is needed to explore PCC and fatigue based on self-reported health experiences of discharged inpatients infected with SARS-CoV-2., (©Nadine Tacchini-Jacquier, Sévrine Monnay, Nicolas Coquoz, Eric Bonvin, Henk Verloo. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 28.08.2024.)