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Purpose <p>To investigate changes in care-seeking behaviors among Chinese cancer survivors following the lifting of COVID-19 control measures, identify demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic predictors of professional care use, and to assess perceived convenience and severity of care needs post-pandemic.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Southwest China between May 2023 and January 2024. A total of 477 valid responses were collected using convenience sampling from outpatient clinics, rehabilitation units, and online survivor networks. Group differences in care-seeking before and after COVID-19 control were tested with <i>Chi</i>-square and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Paired <i>Chi</i>-square tests were applied to compare pre- and post-COVID-19 behaviors. Multivariable Poisson regression with robust error variance was used to identify independent predictors of professional care-seeking.</p> Results <p>Hospital visits declined from 54.1% before control to 40.0% after, while online consultations increased from 8.2% to 22.2% and self-care rose from 27.0% to 33.1%. Perceived convenience of care worsened, with inconvenience reports rising from 32.7% to 43.4%, and the proportion of survivors reporting severe or very severe illness increased. Older age, higher income, higher education, cohabitation, multiple comorbidities, and better functional status were significant predictors of professional care-seeking.</p> Conclusions <p>Post-COVID-19, cancer survivors in China shifted toward online and self-care modalities, while hospital use declined. Access to professional care is shaped by socioeconomic and functional factors, which leads to disparities in survivorship care.</p> Implications for cancer survivors <p>Expanding telemedicine, strengthening community oncology services, and addressing socioeconomic and functional barriers are essential to ensure equitable access to care. Building resilient, integrated models that combine hospital, community, and digital modalities may better support survivors during future public health emergencies.</p>

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Post-COVID-19 changes in care-seeking behaviors among Chinese cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月2日

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  • Yan Zuo,
  • Jingwen He,
  • Zhilan Bai,
  • Haibei Xie,
  • Qian Zhang,
  • Kaixuan Yang,
  • Jianjun Zhang

摘要

Purpose

To investigate changes in care-seeking behaviors among Chinese cancer survivors following the lifting of COVID-19 control measures, identify demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic predictors of professional care use, and to assess perceived convenience and severity of care needs post-pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Southwest China between May 2023 and January 2024. A total of 477 valid responses were collected using convenience sampling from outpatient clinics, rehabilitation units, and online survivor networks. Group differences in care-seeking before and after COVID-19 control were tested with Chi-square and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Paired Chi-square tests were applied to compare pre- and post-COVID-19 behaviors. Multivariable Poisson regression with robust error variance was used to identify independent predictors of professional care-seeking.

Results

Hospital visits declined from 54.1% before control to 40.0% after, while online consultations increased from 8.2% to 22.2% and self-care rose from 27.0% to 33.1%. Perceived convenience of care worsened, with inconvenience reports rising from 32.7% to 43.4%, and the proportion of survivors reporting severe or very severe illness increased. Older age, higher income, higher education, cohabitation, multiple comorbidities, and better functional status were significant predictors of professional care-seeking.

Conclusions

Post-COVID-19, cancer survivors in China shifted toward online and self-care modalities, while hospital use declined. Access to professional care is shaped by socioeconomic and functional factors, which leads to disparities in survivorship care.

Implications for cancer survivors

Expanding telemedicine, strengthening community oncology services, and addressing socioeconomic and functional barriers are essential to ensure equitable access to care. Building resilient, integrated models that combine hospital, community, and digital modalities may better support survivors during future public health emergencies.