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Senthinathan A, Cimino S, Jaglal SB, Craven BC, Tu K, Guilcher S. The impact of the COVID-19 virus and pandemic on healthcare utilization, access, delivery, experiences, and outcomes in the spinal cord injuries/dysfunction population: A scoping review study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297384. [PMID: 38386642 PMCID: PMC10883570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with spinal cord injuries or disease (SCI/D) require frequent healthcare services. The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted healthcare. Furthermore, due to secondary health conditions and comorbidities persons with SCI/D are at increased risk of experiencing severe symptoms or outcomes if infected with the COVID-19 virus. It is unclear to what extent research has investigated the pandemic and virus impacts on the SCI/D population. OBJECTIVE To identify and summarize what is reported in the literature on the impact the COVID-19 virus and pandemic had on healthcare, health outcomes, and experiences in the adult SCI/D population. METHODS Electronic databases and grey literature were searched for articles that included an adult population with a SCI/D and investigated the impact the COVID-19 virus and pandemic had on healthcare-related outcomes and experiences. Articles were double screened, and data were extracted, and synthesized to provide a descriptive summary of the findings. RESULTS Twenty-four studies were included in this review with eight qualitative, fifteen quantitative, and one mixed methods study. Sixteen studies investigated healthcare utilization/access; nine investigated care delivery, nine investigated patient outcomes, and eight investigated patient experiences, with multiple studies spanning different categories of investigation. The pandemic was detrimental to healthcare utilization, access, and outcomes, but no studies quantified these changes. Virtual care was well-received by the SCI/D population to maintain continuity of care. The SCI/D population had issues with maintaining caregiving support. It was unclear if the COVID-19 virus infection impacted individuals with SCI/D differently than the general population. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review found the pandemic negatively impacted multiple aspects of healthcare in individuals with SCI/D, however further investigation on health outcomes is required. More research, particularly large-scale quantitative studies, investigating healthcare access, utilization, and delivery, as well as patient outcomes and experiences is needed to improve care in the SCI/D population post-pandemic onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arrani Senthinathan
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephanie Cimino
- Rehabilitation Science Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan B. Jaglal
- Rehabilitation Science Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- KITE (Knowledge Innovation Talent Everywhere), Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - B. Catharine Craven
- Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- KITE (Knowledge Innovation Talent Everywhere), Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Karen Tu
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto Western Family Health Team, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara Guilcher
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Rehabilitation Science Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Hutton D, Mohamed B, Mehmood K, Magro J, Shekhar H, Solth A, Pulhorn H, Bennett D, Okasha M. COVID-19 and Spontaneous Resolution of Lumbar Disk Prolapse: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Patients Awaiting Microdiscectomy. J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2024. [PMID: 37940114 DOI: 10.1055/a-2206-2718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Between individual patients with lumbar disk prolapse (LDP), the natural course of disease is significantly variable. Spontaneous resolution is reported to occur in up to 70% of cases. However, we currently cannot predict for whom and when this will occur. Neurosurgical intervention is indicated for LDP patients with nontolerable pain after at least 8 to 12 weeks of conservative management, or significant neurologic deficit. Channeling essential resources in the National Health Service (NHS) to fight the COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of most elective operations, including microdiskectomy. This left many LDP patients previously considered to be surgical candidates with conservative-only options in the interim. To our knowledge, we are the first center to report the specific impact of the peri- and postpandemic period on waiting list times, delayed elective microdiskectomy, and the incidence of spontaneous LDP resolution. METHODS Retrospective case series of a prospectively collected electronic departmental database identified LDP patients who would have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic at some point in their care pathway (March 2020-February 2022). Further information was obtained from electronic patient records. RESULTS In total, 139 LDP patients were listed for elective microdiskectomy at the time of postponement of elective surgery. Over a third of LDP patients (n = 47, 33.8%), in shared decision with the responsible neurosurgeon, had their rescheduled microdiskectomy canceled due to clinical improvement (14.1%), radiologic regression (6.5%), or both (12.2%). CONCLUSION Our single-center retrospective analysis revealed that for over a third of LDP patients, the prolonged postpandemic waiting list times for elective microdiskectomy resulted in their surgery not taking place either due to spontaneous clinical improvement or proven radiologic regression. Considering this, a prolonged conservative approach to LDP may be appropriate in some patients, allowing time for natural resolution, while avoiding perioperative risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Hutton
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Belal Mohamed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Khalid Mehmood
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - James Magro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Himanshu Shekhar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Anna Solth
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Heinke Pulhorn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - David Bennett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Mohamed Okasha
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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