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

Related Syntheses

• The Relationship Between Social Connectedness and Mental Health for Residents of Long-term Care Homes: Knowledge Synthesis and Mobilization
• Niikaniganaw (All My Relations) Ii – the COVID-19 Rapid Response: Indigenous Approaches to Synthesizing Knowledge for Culturally-safe and Stigma Free Mental Health Care for Under-served Indigenous Communities in Ottawa-Gatineau
• Knowledge Synthesis for Mechanistic and Targeted In-Person and Digital Social-Connection Intervention for Wellness and Resilience in Older Adults in Pandemic Context and Beyond

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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.