The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on palliative care practice: A survey of clinical oncologists.

Background: Palliative care is an essential intervention to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer, whereas the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses a challenge to supportive and palliative care providers. This survey aims to explore the current status of palliative care practice for cancer and the influence of COVID-19, from the perspective of oncologists. Methods: The semi-structure electronic questionnaire was designed. Mixed-mode surveys including electronic questionnaires, face-to-face interactions, and telephone interviews were adopted according to the willingness of respondents. Face-to-face and telephone interviews were based on same questions in the online questionnaire. Participants working in cancer-related departments with frontline palliative care experience during the COVID-19 outbreak were included. Surveys covered experiences and perspectives regarding the impact of COVID-19 on clinical work, personal lives, and palliative care practice. Suggestions on coping strategies were further proposed and qualitatively analyzed. Results: Thirty-seven oncologists participated in this study from September 2021 to January 2022. The majority of them believed COVID-19 significantly and negatively affected their clinical work routines (75.7%), personal daily lives (67.6%), and palliative care practice (64.9%). Most specialists considered that currently the palliative care system remained underdeveloped (73.0%), and other factors besides COVID-19 were associated with this situation (78.4%). Seventeen participants further made suggestions on how to promote palliative care during COVID-19, and three themes emerged through the qualitative analysis: (1) Remote or online service (88.2%); (2) Publicity, education, or shared decision-making for patients (29.4%); (3) Guidelines, training, or programs for care providers (23.6%). Conclusion: Oncologists consider that COVID-19 has an adverse impact on their palliative care practice and daily routine. In addition to COVID-19, other factors affecting palliative care should not be neglected. Corresponding measures are warranted to encourage palliative care practice during COVID-19.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on palliative care practice: A survey of clinical oncologists

Background Palliative care is an essential intervention to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer, whereas the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses a challenge to supportive and palliative care providers. This survey aims to explore the current status of palliative care practice for cancer and the influence of COVID-19, from the perspective of oncologists. Methods The semi-structure electronic questionnaire was designed. Mixed-mode surveys including electronic questionnaires, face-to-face interactions, and telephone interviews were adopted according to the willingness of respondents. Face-to-face and telephone interviews were based on same questions in the online questionnaire. Participants working in cancer-related departments with frontline palliative care experience during the COVID-19 outbreak were included. Surveys covered experiences and perspectives regarding the impact of COVID-19 on clinical work, personal lives, and palliative care practice. Suggestions on coping strategies were further proposed and qualitatively analyzed. Results Thirty-seven oncologists participated in this study from September 2021 to January 2022. The majority of them believed COVID-19 significantly and negatively affected their clinical work routines (75.7%), personal daily lives (67.6%), and palliative care practice (64.9%). Most specialists considered that currently the palliative care system remained underdeveloped (73.0%), and other factors besides COVID-19 were associated with this situation (78.4%). Seventeen participants further made suggestions on how to promote palliative care during COVID-19, and three themes emerged through the qualitative analysis: (1) Remote or online service (88.2%);(2) Publicity, education, or shared decision-making for patients (29.4%);(3) Guidelines, training, or programs for care providers (23.6%). Conclusion Oncologists consider that COVID-19 has an adverse impact on their palliative care practice and daily routine. In addition to COVID-19, other factors affecting palliative care should not be neglected. Corresponding measures are warranted to encourage palliative care practice during COVID-19.

Analysing issues of medical communication during the COVID-19 outbreak

The COVID-19 outbreak has created new opportunities for serious reflection on the connotations of and interrelationships among the elements of medical communication, including communication content, communicators, communication channels, communication audience and communication effects. There are four types of medical communicators: medical workers, medical researchers, public health workers and medical humanities scholars. Online media have provided the main channel for medical communication. The effectiveness of medical communication is premised on the authenticity and reliability of the content. The uncertainty of information on COVID-19 medical risks and the status of communication of such information will affect the results of medical communication. Information overload will also weaken the effectiveness of medical communication.

Nursing ethics for prevention and control of major infectious disease outbreaks: Chinese expert consensus.

OBJECTIVES: Major infectious disease has become a serious threat to people's health worldwide. As the world's largest healthcare workforce and the core forces fighting against the epidemic, nurses are on the frontline of this battle. A number of ethical issues have given rise to numerous concerns that have largely affected nurses in different ways as they respond to the epidemic. In addition, excessive expectations from people can exert undue pressure, which can easily lead to burnout in nurses. METHODS: In this consensus, the expert panel method was used to develop and reach a consensus. The members involved in the formation of the consensus included an expert discussion panel and a consensus writing expert group, a methodologist, and four secretaries. After 16 rounds of online expert consultation and two rounds of expert panel meetings, the writing team analyzed and reviewed the 78 amendments suggested by the experts to develop a consensus on nursing ethics for prevention and control of major infectious disease outbreaks based on the ethical vision of life care. RESULTS: This expert consensus focuses on five essential domains: the responsibilities and rights of nurses, the nurse-patient relationship, the doctor-nurse relationship, and the relationship between society and nurses throughout the epidemic. CONCLUSIONS: We hope this consensus can help nurses better understand and respond to the ethical issues and challenges in public health emergencies, and raise reasonable public expectations of the roles and responsibilities of nurses in these situations.