Cancer support in the era of virtual interaction: analysis of a community-based cancer support organization

Several benefits exist when supportive therapies (exercise, art, mind-body practices, support groups, etc.) are incorporated into care for those with cancer. Research assessing real-world disparities among support service utilization is limited, especially as virtual options have increased. We aimed to identify changes in participant demographics and resource utilization at a community-based cancer support organization as program delivery shifted from all in-person to virtual and hybrid platforms.

Deidentified, retrospective data was gathered from three 6-month time periods, corresponding to in-person, virtual, and hybrid program delivery. Participant demographics, cancer diagnoses, and types of programs attended were collected. Comparisons between individual variables were performed in relation to the distinct 6-month time periods. The Wilcoxon test was used for age, and chi-square tests were used for all other variables. Statistical significance was set at two-sided p-values < 0.05.

Participants of female gender, white race, and above-average household income defined the majority and did not change based on delivery platform. However, participants utilizing services in the virtual/hybrid setting were significantly younger with fewer breast cancer diagnoses compared to in-person delivery. Engagement in support, exercise, art, and mind/body programs significantly decreased while educational participation significantly increased from in-person to virtual/hybrid settings.

Participation was highly skewed toward female, white, and higher-income individuals. Younger participant age in the virtual setting mirrors the age-related disparity among telemedicine utilization. While virtual participation led to decreased engagement in programs emphasizing camaraderie and social bonding, participation in programs encompassing more passive engagement remained steady or rose. This study identifies important gaps in support service utilization and underscores the importance of in-person interaction.