OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to estimate the level of the COVID-19 related stress and perceived stress and the pattern of coping styles among Oncology Health Care Workers (OHCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary cancer centre in the rural part of Kerala (India). The OHCW working in the centre during the COVID-19 pandemic were included, andstudents and observers were excluded from the study. The COVID-19 stress rating scale, perceived stress scale and brief-COPE were used to collect the data.

RESULTS: Data were collected when the COVID-19 cases were in their first peak in Kerala. Two hundred and eighty two OHCW participated in the study.The COVID-19 stress of 5 or above was reported by 48.6% of OHCW. More than half (59.6%) of them reported moderate to severe perceived stress. On the Brief-COPE scale, the mean score of approach coping was 35.58 and of avoidance coping was 24.26. A significant positive correlation (r =0.347) was found between COVID-19 related stress and perceived stress. Significantly high stress was found among males, front office staff, those between 30 and 40 years, with a history of the COVID-19 contact and those with co-morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS: Although half of the OHCW reported high COVID-19 related stress and perceived stress, they used an approach coping style to deal with the stress during this pandemic.