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Popescu A, Pantea S, Radu D, Gluhovschi A, Dumitru C, Dahma G, Mocanu AG, Neamtu R, Dema S, Tigmeanu CV, Grigoras ML, Pescariu SA, Aabed H, Craina M. The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy for Advanced Cervical Cancer at a Romanian Academic Center: A Four-Year Retrospective Analysis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12061488. [PMID: 35741299 PMCID: PMC9222190 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12061488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems worldwide adapted to support COVID-19 patients while continuing to provide assistance to patients with other potentially fatal illnesses. While patients with cancer may be at an elevated risk of severe COVID-19-related complications, their oncologic therapies generally cannot be postponed indefinitely without a negative effect on outcomes. Taking this into account, a thorough examination of the therapy management of various cancers is necessary, such as cervical cancer. Therefore, we aimed to develop a retrospective cohort study to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of cancer care services for women diagnosed with cervical cancer staged IB2-IVA, necessitating chemo- and radiotherapy in Romania, as well as determine the difference in cervical cancer staging between the pandemic and pre-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: Using a multicentric hospital database, we designed a retrospective study to compare the last 24 months of the pre-pandemic period to the first 24 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to evaluate the variation in the proportion of women diagnosed with cervical cancer and the percentage of inoperable cases requiring chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as to detail their clinical presentation and other findings. Results: We observed that the likelihood of cervical cancer patients requiring radiation therapy at a later stage than before the pandemic increased by about 20% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients at an advanced FIGO stage of cervical cancer had a 3.39 higher likelihood of disease progression after radiotherapy (CI [2.06−4.21], p-value < 0.001), followed by tumor size at diagnosis with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.12 (CI [2.24−4.00], p-value < 0.001). The factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, postponed treatment and missed appointments, were also identified as significant risk factors for cervical cancer progression (HR = 2.51 and HR = 2.24, respectively). Conclusions We predict that there will be a considerable rise in cervical cancer cases over the next several years based on existing data and that expanding screening and treatment capacity will attenuate this with a minimal increase in morbidity and fatality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alin Popescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Stelian Pantea
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.P.); (D.R.)
| | - Daniela Radu
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.P.); (D.R.)
| | - Adrian Gluhovschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Catalin Dumitru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - George Dahma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Adelina Geanina Mocanu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Radu Neamtu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Sorin Dema
- Discipline of Radiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Codruta Victoria Tigmeanu
- Department of Technology of Materials and Devices in Dental Medicine, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Mirela Loredana Grigoras
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Silvius Alexandru Pescariu
- Department VI, Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Hazzaa Aabed
- Department of Plastic Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Marius Craina
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
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Lopes Ribeiro OMP, Trindade LDL, Pinto Novo AFM, da Rocha CG, Sousa CN, Cabral Teles PJF, Reis ACRDS, Perondi AR, Andrigue KCK, Pereira SCDA, Leite PCDS, Ventura-Silva JMA. The COVID-19 Pandemic and Professional Nursing Practice in the Context of Hospitals. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:326. [PMID: 35206940 PMCID: PMC8872092 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10020326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed challenges to health systems and institutions, which had to quickly create conditions to meet the growing health needs of the population. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on professional nursing practice environments and to identify the variables that affected their quality. Quantitative, observational study, conducted in 16 Portuguese hospitals, with 1575 nurses. Data were collected using a questionnaire and participants responded to two different moments in time: the pre-pandemic period and after the fourth critical period of COVID-19. The pandemic had a positive impact on the Structure and Outcome components, and a negative trend in the Process component. The variables associated with the qualification of the components and their dimensions were predominantly: work context, the exercise of functions in areas of assistance to COVID-19 patients, length of professional experience and length of experience in the service. The investment in professional practice environments impacted the improvement of organizational factors, supporting the development of nurses' work towards the quality of care. However, it is necessary to invest in nurses' participation, involvement and professional qualifications, which are aspects strongly dependent on the institutions' management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Carla Gomes da Rocha
- Institute of Health, School of Health Sciences, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland;
| | - Clemente Neves Sousa
- Nursing School of Porto, Center for Health Technology and Services Research, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
| | | | | | | | | | - Soraia Cristina de Abreu Pereira
- ACES Entre Douro e Vouga I–Feira/Arouca, North Region Health Administration, 4000-447 Porto, Portugal; (S.C.d.A.P.); (P.C.d.S.L.)
| | - Paula Cristina da Silva Leite
- ACES Entre Douro e Vouga I–Feira/Arouca, North Region Health Administration, 4000-447 Porto, Portugal; (S.C.d.A.P.); (P.C.d.S.L.)
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