TY - JOUR
T1 - Expected medium- And long-term impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in oncology
AU - Onesti, Concetta Elisa
AU - Tagliamento, Marco
AU - Curigliano, Giuseppe
AU - Harbeck, Nadia
AU - Bartsch, Rupert
AU - Wildiers, Hans
AU - Tjan-Heijnen, Vivianne
AU - Martin, Miguel
AU - Rottey, Sylvie
AU - Generali, Daniele
AU - Campone, Mario
AU - Cristofanilli, Massimo
AU - Pusztai, Lajos
AU - Peeters, Marc
AU - Berchem, Guy
AU - Cortes, Javier
AU - Ruhstaller, Thomas
AU - Ciruelos, Eva
AU - Rugo, Hope S.
AU - Jerusalem, Guy
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by Fondation Léon Fredericq.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic has affected healthcare systems globally, leading to reorganization of medical activities. We performed an international survey aimed to investigate the medium- and long-term impact on oncology units. MATERIALS AND METHODS An 82-item survey was distributed from June 17 to July 14, 2020 among medical oncologists worldwide. RESULTS One hundred nine medical oncologists from 18 countries in Europe (n = 93), United States (n = 5), and Latin America (n = 11) answered the survey. A systematic tracing of COVID-19-positive patients was continued in the postacute phase by 77.1% of the centers; 64.2% of the respondents participated in a local registry and 56% in international or national registries of infected patients. Treatment adaptations were introduced, and surgery was the most affected modality being delayed or canceled in more than 10% of patients in 34% of the centers, whereas early cessation of palliative treatment was reported in 32.1% of the centers; 64.2% of respondents reported paying attention to avoid undertreatments. The use of telemedicine has been largely increased. Similarly, virtual tools are increasingly used particularly for medical education and international or national or multidisciplinary meetings. 60.6% of the participants reduced clinical activity, and 28.4% compensated by increasing their research activity. Significant reduction of clinical trial activities is expected in 37% of centers this year. The well-being of healthcare staff would not recover by the end of the year according to 18% of the participants. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 outbreak has had a major impact on oncologic activity, which will persist in the future, irrespective of geographical areas.
AB - PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic has affected healthcare systems globally, leading to reorganization of medical activities. We performed an international survey aimed to investigate the medium- and long-term impact on oncology units. MATERIALS AND METHODS An 82-item survey was distributed from June 17 to July 14, 2020 among medical oncologists worldwide. RESULTS One hundred nine medical oncologists from 18 countries in Europe (n = 93), United States (n = 5), and Latin America (n = 11) answered the survey. A systematic tracing of COVID-19-positive patients was continued in the postacute phase by 77.1% of the centers; 64.2% of the respondents participated in a local registry and 56% in international or national registries of infected patients. Treatment adaptations were introduced, and surgery was the most affected modality being delayed or canceled in more than 10% of patients in 34% of the centers, whereas early cessation of palliative treatment was reported in 32.1% of the centers; 64.2% of respondents reported paying attention to avoid undertreatments. The use of telemedicine has been largely increased. Similarly, virtual tools are increasingly used particularly for medical education and international or national or multidisciplinary meetings. 60.6% of the participants reduced clinical activity, and 28.4% compensated by increasing their research activity. Significant reduction of clinical trial activities is expected in 37% of centers this year. The well-being of healthcare staff would not recover by the end of the year according to 18% of the participants. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 outbreak has had a major impact on oncologic activity, which will persist in the future, irrespective of geographical areas.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101193452&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33529077
U2 - 10.1200/GO.20.00589
DO - 10.1200/GO.20.00589
M3 - Article
C2 - 33529077
AN - SCOPUS:85101193452
SN - 2378-9506
VL - 7
SP - 162
EP - 172
JO - JCO Global Oncology
JF - JCO Global Oncology
ER -