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Di Cosimo S, Susca N, Apolone G, Silvestris N, Racanelli V. The worldwide impact of COVID-19 on cancer care: A meta-analysis of surveys published after the first wave of the pandemic. Front Oncol 2022; 12:961380. [PMID: 36249038 PMCID: PMC9556993 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.961380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The rapid and global spread of COVID-19 posed a massive challenge to healthcare systems, which came across the need to provide high-intensity assistance to thousands of patients suffering from SARS-CoV-2 infection while assuring continuous care for all other diseases. This has been of particular importance in the oncology field. This study explores how oncology centers responded to the pandemic at a single center level by assessing surveys addressing different aspects of cancer care after the pandemic outbreak. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the cancer care surveys published until December 11th, 2020. Data were analyzed according to three main areas of interest, namely health care organization, including cancellation/delay and/or modification of scheduled treatments, cancellation/delay of outpatient visits, and reduction of overall cancer care activities; routine use of preventive measures, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) by both patients and health care workers, and systematic SARS-CoV-2 screening by nasopharyngeal swabs; and implementation of telemedicine through remote consultations. Findings Fifty surveys reporting data on 9150 providers from 121 countries on 5 continents were included. Cancellation/delay of treatment occurred in 58% of centers; delay of outpatient visits in 75%; changes in treatment plans in 65%; and a general reduction in clinical activity in 58%. Routine use of PPE by patients and healthcare personnel was reported by 81% and 80% of centers, respectively; systematic SARS-CoV-2 screening by nasopharyngeal swabs was reported by only 41% of centers. Virtual visits were implemented by the majority (72%) of centers. Interpretation These results describe the negative impact of COVID-19 on cancer care, the rapid response of cancer centers in terms of preventive measures and alternative treatment approaches such as telemedicine, and confirm that surveys can provide the valuable, low-cost and immediate information that critical situations require.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Di Cosimo
- Platform of Integrated Biology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Susca
- School of Medicine: Interdisciplinary of Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Apolone
- Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Silvestris
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Vito Racanelli
- School of Medicine: Interdisciplinary of Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- *Correspondence: Vito Racanelli,
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Cordeiro L, Gnatta JR, Ciofi-Silva CL, Price A, de Oliveira NA, Almeida RM, Mainardi GM, Srinivas S, Chan W, Levin ASS, Padoveze MC. Personal protective equipment implementation in healthcare: A scoping review. Am J Infect Control 2022; 50:898-905. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Calcagnile T, Sighinolfi MC, Sarchi L, Assumma S, Filippi B, Bonfante G, Cassani A, Spandri V, Turri F, Puliatti S, Bozzini G, Moschovas M, Bianchi G, Micali S, Rocco B. COVID-19 and slowdown of residents' activity: Feedback from a novel e-learning event and overview of the literature. Urologia 2021; 88:332-336. [PMID: 33749385 DOI: 10.1177/03915603211001253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of an e-learning online event, created for supporting resident's training during the slowdown of surgical and clinical activities caused by COVID-19 pandemic. An overview of PubMed literature depicting the state of the art of urology residency in the COVID-19 era was performed as well, to contextualize the issue. METHODS An online learning event for residents was set up at the beginning of the pandemic; the faculty consisted of experts in urology who provided on-line lectures and videos on surgical anatomy, procedures, updates in guidelines, technology, training. The audience was composed of 30-500 attendees from Italy, USA, India and Belgium. A questionnaire to analyze relevance, satisfaction and popularity of the lessons was mailed to 30 local residents. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS Almost all residents defined the web environment suitable to achieve the learning outcomes; the method, the number and the competence of the faculty were appropriate/excellent. Most of the younger residents (81.8%) stated their surgical knowledge would improve after the course; 72.7% declared they would take advantage into routine inpatients clinical activity. Nineteen more expert residents agreed that the course would improve their surgical knowledge and enhance their practical skills; almost all stated that the initiative would change their outpatients and inpatients practice. Overall, 44 articles available in PubMed have addressed the concern of urological learning and training during the pandemic from different standpoints; four of them considered residents' general perception towards web-based learning programs. CONCLUSIONS The paper confirms residents' satisfaction with e-learning methods and, to our knowledge, is the first one focusing on a specific event promptly settled up at the beginning of the outbreak. Web-based educational experience developed during the pandemic may represent the very basis for the implementation of prospective on-site training and overall scientific update of future urologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Calcagnile
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Luca Sarchi
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Simone Assumma
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Beatrice Filippi
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Bonfante
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Alessandra Cassani
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Valentina Spandri
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Filippo Turri
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Stefano Puliatti
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giorgio Bozzini
- Department of Urology, ASST Valle Olona Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy
| | - Marcio Moschovas
- Department of Urology, Advent Health Global Robotics Institute, Celebration, FL, USA
| | - Giampaolo Bianchi
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Salvatore Micali
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Bernardo Rocco
- Department of Urology, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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