Necessity and influencing factors for integrating oral health in cancer care for older people: a narrative review.

PURPOSE: The number of older people with poor oral health diagnosed with cancer is increasing rapidly. However, integration of oral health in cancer care for older people to prevent or minimize oral health complications of cancer treatments is uncommon, except in head and neck oncology. The aim of this review is to describe the need, role of, and factors influencing the integration of oral health(care) into the treatment of older people with cancer. METHODS: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for papers published in the last 10 years that focus on oral health in older people diagnosed with cancer, the impact of oral health on cancer therapy, and integrated oral health in cancer treatment. RESULTS: From 523 related papers, 68 publications were included and summarized as follows: (1) oral complications associated with cancer therapies, (2) the need for oral healthcare in older people with cancer, (3) the role of integration of oral health in cancer care, and (4) influencing factors such as ageism, interprofessional education and collaborations, oral healthcare workforce, oral health literacy, and financial considerations. CONCLUSION: Integration of oral healthcare is highly recommended for the overall well-being of older people with cancer to prevent, minimize, and manage complications in cancer treatment. However, oral healthcare has not been integrated in cancer care yet, except for head and neck cancers. This review identified a notable gap in the literature, highlighting the need for research on integration of oral healthcare in geriatric oncology.

Long-Term Immunological Alertness and Response to COVID-19 Vaccination-Conditions for Prevention in Early Palliative Oncological Care Patients.

Aside from the general population, the COVID-19 pandemic has also affected a group of patients in palliative oncology care. In this study, long-term immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination were monitored in a cohort of patients in palliative oncology care. This non-randomized, prospective, and open-label pilot study recruited patients from the Palliative Oncology Program and included 147 patients, of which 80 were females (54.4%) and 67 males (45.6%). The overall evaluation included current health status, SARS-CoV-2 anti-S IgG titer, and neutralizing antibodies using the SARS-CoV-2 virus neutralization test (VNT). Anti-S IgG antibody analysis revealed high (H) antibody levels in 35.7% (n = 10) and very high (VH) levels in 39.3% (n = 11) of patients after the second vaccination dose. Similarly, after the third dose, H was found in 29.6% (n = 32) and VH in 55.5% (n = 60) of patients. High and very high anti-S IgG antibody levels were consistent with high VNT titers (>2560) and H antibody levels in 17.1% (n = 12) or VH in 82.9% (n = 58) of patients. Patients with two or more doses showed H and VH antibody levels at a median of 451 and 342 days after vaccination, respectively. In this clinical trial, patients showed high and very high levels of anti-S IgG antibodies over a longer period of time. These patients did not show reduced immunological responses to the COVID-19 vaccine challenge. We can assume that prevention through vaccination can reduce the risk of complications or death from COVID-19 in patients in early palliative oncology care.

Integration of palliative care in the management of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral Squamous cell Cancers (OSCC) is strongly associated with tobacco consumption. We here in present a case study of a OSCC patient who refused standard oncological care (SOC), to highlight the importance of integrating palliative care (PC) for improved patient outcomes. A 61 years male patient, with history of chewing tobacco for more than 20 years and diagnosed to have OSCC for 1.5 years presented with severe anaemia and a cauliflower-like growth (12 x 10 cm) in the left oral cavity and cheek with greenish-yellow discharge. Pus culture was positive for K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. Patient is also a known hypertensive for 15 years and a diabetic for 7 years on allopathic treatment. However, the patient refused SOC for oral cancer and relied on siddha treatment. Packed cell transfusions were given to correct anaemia and the blood glucose levels was kept under control. Frequent wound debridement, oral care, antibiotics, balanced-diet and hydration improved wound-bed granulation. Patient and family members were counselled and explained in detail on the need for SOC by sharing previous OSCC patients' care and outcomes at our centre. Patient gained trust and courage and agreed for chemotherapy, which reduced the disease burden and improved the quality of life (QoL) considerably. Therefore, PC integration at an early stage of treatment is imperative as it reduced (i) the burden of secondary infection, (ii) pain and distress, and (iii) improved the QoL.

Impact of Community Palliative Care on Quality of Life among Cancer Patients in Bangladesh.

Cancer, a leading cause of mortality worldwide, is often diagnosed at late stages in low- and middle-income countries, resulting in preventable suffering. When added to standard oncological care, palliative care may improve the quality of life (QOL) of these patients. A longitudinal observational study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2021. Thirty-nine cancer patients were enrolled in the Compassionate Narayanganj community palliative care group (NPC), where they received comprehensive palliative care in addition to oncological care. Thirty-one patients from the Dept. of Oncology (DO) at BSMMU received standard oncological care. In contrast to the DO group, the NPC group had a higher percentage of female patients, was older, and had slightly higher levels of education. At 10 to 14 weeks follow-up, a significant improvement in overall QOL was observed in the NPC group (p = 0.007), as well as in the psychological (p = 0.003), social (p = 0.002), and environmental domains (p = 0.15). Among the secondary outcomes, the palliative care group had reduced disability and neuropathic pain scores. Additionally, there were statistically significant reductions in pain, drowsiness, and shortness of breath, as well as an improvement in general wellbeing, based on the results of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale-Revised. At the community level in Bangladesh, increased access to palliative care may improve cancer patient outcomes such as QOL and symptom burden.

The role of emotion processing in art therapy (REPAT) intervention protocol.

Psychological and physical health are known to improve with emotion processing, which is becoming aware of bodily sensations, accepting them as information that can be translated into emotion concepts and expressing them symbolically and linguistically as emotions. Art therapy utilizes the visual arts for processing emotions to facilitate self-expression and communication with the goal of improving psychological wellbeing. The mental health of individuals coping with and recovering from cancer is known to benefit from art therapy. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of the role of emotion processing in art therapy (REPAT) intervention, which is an 8 week, one and a half hour art therapy intervention created to target emotion processing as a primary mechanism of change, through which art therapy has the potential to reduce symptoms (i.e., depression, pain and fatigue) of women coping with breast cancer. To obtain this goal we used template for intervention description and replication (TIDieR) and GUIDance for the rEporting of intervention Development (GUIDED) guidelines for intervention development description, with the goal of ensuring successful implementation for clinical and research use.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oncological care in Germany: rapid review.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic affected medical care for chronic diseases. This study aimed to systematically assess the pandemic impact on oncological care in Germany using a rapid review. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, study and preprint registries and study bibliographies were searched for studies published between 2020 and 2 November 2022. Inclusion was based on the PCC framework: population (cancer), concept (oncological care) and context (COVID-19 pandemic in Germany). Studies were selected after title/abstract and full-text screening by two authors. Extracted data were synthesized using descriptive statistics or narratively. Risk of bias was assessed and summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Overall, 77 records (59 peer-reviewed studies and 18 reports) with administrative, cancer registry and survey data were included. Disruptions in oncological care were reported and varied according to pandemic-related factors (e.g., pandemic stage) and other (non-pandemic) factors (e.g., care details). During higher restriction periods fewer consultations and non-urgent surgeries, and delayed diagnosis and screening were consistently reported. Heterogeneous results were reported for treatment types other than surgery (e.g., psychosocial care) and aftercare, while ongoing care remained mostly unchanged. The risk of bias was on average moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Disruptions in oncological care were reported during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Such disruptions probably depended on factors that were insufficiently controlled for in statistical analyses and evidence quality was on average only moderate. Research focus on patient outcomes (e.g., longer term consequences of disruptions) and pandemic management by healthcare systems is potentially relevant for future pandemics or health emergencies.

Optimizing palliative care and support for pets -perspectives of the pet-parent and the veterinarian.

As animals benefit from improved chronic disease care, more pet-parents and veterinarians face issues of late life and terminal care. Management of life limiting disease commonly considers the timing of euthanasia, often overlooking the role of supportive palliative care. Necessary communications between vet and pet-parents are rarely emphasized. However, as in human palliative care, the central role of good communications is critical. In particular, three communication elements are primary, namely: empathic communication and shared decision-making; managing progressive symptoms, and; advanced directives. Moreover, focusing only on euthanasia can easily discount the profound emotional legacy of bereavement. This Perspective illustrates how communications policies derived from human palliative care are exemplified in the management of a case of canine lung cancer, to the wider practice benefits of pets, pet-parents and veterinary practice staff.

Which type of fear of cancer progression contributes to the quality of life of Romanian cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Introduction: Fear of cancer progression (FoP) is one of the most frequently reported unmet needs invoked by the majority of cancer patients, which may significantly impair the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The major objective of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the specificities of the relationship between different dimensions and intensity of FoP and different aspects of patients' QoL during the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania. Methods: A nationwide sample of 330 participants completed a survey, including measures of demographic characteristics, medical variables, QoL, and FoP. Multivariate General Linear and Hierarchical Regression Models were conducted in order to assess the relationship between variables. Result: Our results indicate that less than a quarter of the sample experienced low, between 63 and 70% moderate, and 15% high levels of FoP. Our results also indicate that anxiety/worry related to the possibility of progression of the disease, and loss of independence produced significant differences with large effect sizes in all the dimensions of QoL. Discussion: Our results indicate that besides affective reactions, the fear of cancer survivors to lose independence, not being able to attend to their own lives, seems to be a considerable threat, especially in the context of Romanian health system which has difficulties in offering qualitative psychosocial care for cancer patients. The idea that patients will have to rely on others and may not function well independently, not being able to attend to their own lives, seems to be a considerable threat, next to the experienced affective reactions per se.

[Cancer medicine in a state of flux - Where does psycho-oncology stand? : New challenges for cancer patients and treating physicians]. / Krebsmedizin im Wandel ­ Wo steht die Psychoonkologie? : Neue Herausforderungen für Krebspatienten und Behandler.

Despite significantly improved supportive measures, oncological treatment is still exhausting and is accompanied by organ loss, disability and functional limitations. In the longer term those affected have to cope with the loss of important life commodities and after the end of treatment to live under the much-cited "sword of Damocles". Around one third of all people diagnosed with cancer develop a mental disorder at some point during the course of the illness that requires treatment and pronounced stress reactions occur at key points over the course of treatment. Both mental disorders and subsyndromic distress can be successfully treated with psychotherapeutic and psycho-oncological interventions. Therefore, every cancer patient should be informed about the availability and potential benefit of psycho-oncological support after the diagnosis or in the further course of treatment.

[EXPERIENCE IN ORGANIZING THE WORK OF THE CENTER FOR PERSONALIZED TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS (NETHERLANDS)].

INTRODUCTION: In the last decade, there has been a «breakthrough¼ development of scientific approaches to the assay of genomic and immune factors underlying anti-cancer treatment efficiency. The choice of antitumor therapy in practice is increasingly determined by molecular signatures, and not only by the specificity of organ tumor originated from (or by the histological properties of the tumor). An urgent and important scientific and practical task is to study the successful experience of organizing Centers for Personalized Cancer Treatment (CPCT). AIM: analysis of the 10-year experience of the Clinical Center for Personalized Cancer Treatment in the Netherlands. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the internet databases using keywords: personalized cancer therapy / treatment, cancer, targeted therapy etc.Results. The Center's research project collects data on patients with metastatic cancer who are eligible for anticancer treatment as part of standard practice. The system accumulates various information about tumor DNA, mutations and abnormalities in DNA, treatment results (outcomes), as well as other important clinical characteristics, including individual tumor process. Registered parameters are stored in a digital database and are available for scientific research. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: CPCT consider the possibilities for the more in-depth genomic analysis of patient DNA (including non-tumor DNA) in the future in order to improve the medical decision making regarding early diagnosis and personalized choice of anticancer therapies. Rapid progress will lead to the emergence of more advanced methods for re-evaluating biological samples accumulated in biobanks, that will facilitate the understanding the pillars of personalized anti-cancer treatment approaches as well as create an additional bases for the new drug development.

Screening for Distress in Oncological Patients: The Revised Version of the Psychological Distress Inventory (PDI-R).

Background: Psychological research in oncological settings is steadily increasing and the construct of psychological distress has rapidly gained popularity-leading to the development of questionnaires aimed at its measurement. The Psychological Distress Inventory (PDI) is one of the most used instruments, but its psychometric properties were not yet deeply evaluated. The present studies aimed at investigating the psychometric properties of the PDI (Study 1) and providing a revised version of the tool (Study 2). Methods: Oncological outpatients were enrolled at the Department of Medical Oncology of the Presidio Ospedaliero of Saronno, ASST Valle Olona, Italy. For the first study (N = 251), an Exploratory Graph Analysis was used to explore the item structure of the PDI. In the second study (N = 902), the psychometric properties of the revised PDI (PDI-R) were deeply assessed. Results: Study 1 showed that the PDI has a not clear structure and it should be reconsidered. On the opposite, Study 2 showed that the revised version (PDI-R) has a solid factorial structure, it is invariant across gender and age, and it has good psychometric properties. Conclusion: Results suggest that the PDI-R is a reliable measure of psychological distress in different samples of oncological patients, with stronger psychometric properties than the original version. Its use in the clinical and research field is therefore recommended to improve the quality of both assessment and treatment of psychological distress in patients with oncological problems.

[Development of a screening workflow to identify patient needs in an interdisciplinary oncological day clinic]. / Entwicklung eines Screening-Workflows zur Erkennung von Patientenbedürfnissen in einer interdisziplinären onkologischen Tagesklinik.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of cancer leads to high levels of emotional distress in many patients. Quality of life is an important therapeutic goal in this context. A quality-of-life guide was implemented in the oncological day clinic (ICT) at the University Hospital of Regensburg (UKR) in order to individually support outpatients, help them with their questions and needs and improve their quality of life. METHODS: A screening tool is necessary for the structured assessment of quality of life/needs in the routine of tumor therapy and follow-up. As part of a mixed-methods study, focus groups with health professionals/patients were organized to specify the needs of cancer patients. On this basis, the literature was searched for questionnaires covering these needs in order to adapt an ICT-specific questionnaire and integrate it with the help of a workflow. RESULTS: A total of 333 individual aspects were brought up by the participants in focus groups on the needs of cancer patients in various phases of treatment/with various tumor entities. Since none of the questionnaires identified in the literature met our requirements, a new screening tool containing elements from different standardized forms and the results of the focus groups was developed and a new workflow created to integrate the questionnaire into the ICT routine. DISCUSSION: By interviewing health experts from different areas and patients with different tumor entities, the needs of cancer patients over different stages of the disease and additional possible differences between the cancer entities were identified and recorded. Through the implementation of a quality-of-life guide in the ICT, a structured assessment of the quality of life and an analysis of patient needs can take place with the help of the screening. A workflow was created to integrate screening into routine care. In addition, the questionnaire was designed in such a way that it can be used repeatedly at various points in time. In order to cover important stages in the course of therapy and to determine how patient needs change over the course, patients should be asked to complete the questionnaire several times after specified time intervals. CONCLUSION: The questionnaire is intended to assess the needs of cancer patients receiving outpatient treatment in a structured manner. Now it needs to be explored how the new screening tool and workflow interact and perform in clinical practice and how they help to improve patients' quality of life. It is also interesting to analyze which patients accept the advice offered by the quality-of-life guide and which needs are expressed most frequently.

Organizing Psycho-Oncological Care for Cancer Patients: The Patient's Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients often suffer from psychological distress during or after cancer treatment, but the use of psycho-oncological care among cancer patients is limited. One of the reasons might be that the way psycho-oncological care is organized, does not fit patients' preferences. This study aimed to obtain detailed insight into cancer patients' preferences regarding the organization of psycho-oncological care. METHODS: 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted among cancer patients. Patients completed psycho-oncological treatment between 2015 and 2020 at the psychology department in a general hospital or a center specialized in psychological cancer care in the Netherlands. The interview comprised questions related to preferences regarding the institute where to receive treatment, the psychologist who provides treatment, and the type of treatment, as well as questions related to experienced barriers and facilitators to receive psycho-oncological care. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed individually by two coders into key issues and themes. RESULTS: Regarding the institute, easy accessibility and prompt availability of psychol-oncological care were considered important. Regarding the psychologist, most participants had a strong preference to be treated by a psychologist specialized in cancer or other somatic diseases. Individual face-to-face therapy was preferred above other types of treatment. Several barriers were mentioned to receive psycho-oncological treatment, among which poor accessibility to psycho-oncological care, lack of knowledge on the possibilities for psycho-oncological treatment, and stigma. Most frequently mentioned facilitators were being assertive to ask for help, having a good relationship with the healthcare professional, and the integration of psycho-oncological support within medical cancer care. CONCLUSION: From the patient's perspective, the organization of psycho-oncological care for cancer patients should focus on easy accessibility and availability, delivered by specialized psychologists, and integration in medical cancer care. Online and group therapy are acceptable, but individual face-to-face therapy is preferred. It is warranted to increase awareness on psycho-oncological care targeting both patients and healthcare providers.

Screening for distress, related problems and perceived need for psycho-oncological support in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In different cancer entities, several studies have shown the adverse effects of cancer on mental health, psychological well-being and the increased risk of high emotional distress in cancer patients. This study aims to analyze psychosocial distress levels and their relationship between sociodemographic parameters and selected items on the Distress Thermometer (DT) Problem List in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed a total of 120 HNSCC patients using the Distress Thermometer (DT) Problem List. Distress scores (DTS) of 90 patients were available. A DTS of ≥ 5 on the visual analogue scale represents clinically relevant distress. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, comparison of mean values for different DTS subcategories and correlation between DTS scores and parameters of tumor classification, sociodemographic variables and selected problems. RESULTS: Distress was present in 57.7% of the sample, with a total of 52 patients with a DTS  ≥ 5. The mean DTS was 4.7 (SD 2.4). Patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC had significantly higher DTS. Distress levels were significantly associated with sadness, general worries, anxiety, nervousness, sleeping disorders, mouth sores and fever. Out of the total sample, 6 patients and out of these 6 individuals, 5 patients with a DTS ≥ 5 requested referrals to psycho-oncological service. CONCLUSION: High distress levels were common in HNSCC patients but only few patients desired psycho-oncological care. Addressing patients' supportive care needs in routine clinical practice is essential to meet unmet needs of HNSCC patients and thus improve cancer care.

[The verification of systemic factors of oncology care organization in the Saratov oblast].

In Russia, the oncological diseases significantly impact public health. The study of oncological medical care organization in the Saratov Oblast, that has a number of territorial demographic and medical social characteristics, affecting oncological situation, was carried out. The purpose of the study is to verify systemic factors determining specific characteristics of the oncological medical care organization in the Saratov Oblast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To elaborate objective comprehension of specific characteristics of the oncological medical care organization in the Saratov Oblast medical and sociological focus groups study was carried out, involving sampling of 12 experts oncologists and health care organizers. THE RESULTS: The original guide scenario developed for the focus group study included expert discussion on trends in oncological medical care organization at the Oblast level and directions of improving continuum of oncological care. The study data analysis was implemented in accordance with specified scenario. CONCLUSION: The focus group study elaborated objective understanding of the specific characteristics of oncological medical care organization in the Oblast and predetermined verification and ranking of systemic factors that significantly impact the continuum of oncological care.

Laparoscopic transdiaphragmatic pericardial fenestration in palliative care: how I do it.

BACKGROUND: The optimal therapeutic strategy for drainage of malignant pericardial effusion is not yet determined. Several techniques are described, with different benefits and disadvantages. The literature suggests that surgical drainage of pericardial effusions has less effusion recurrence; however, randomized controlled trials are not available. Due to the nature of the disease, quality of life should always be considered while making treatment decisions. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients from November 2016 until June 2019 of our institution in the Netherlands was performed. All patients underwent laparoscopic pericardial fenestration after echocardiography and request for operative treatment by the cardiologist. The same operation technique was performed in every case. RESULTS: Four out of five of our patients needed pericardial fenestration because of oncological diseases. No hemodynamically instability was noted during this fast technique, achieving direct relief of symptoms. No treatment-related morbidity or mortality, nor the need for re-intervention was encountered. We compared the outcome of our five patients with the existing evidence in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: In this article, we highlight the laparoscopic transdiaphragmatic pericardial fenestration as a treatment of preference in a non-acute palliative setting. This laparoscopic approach is safe, and can be a valuable alternative among the other well-known approaches.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on care of oncological patients: experience of a cancer center in a Latin American pandemic epicenter / Impacto da COVID-19 sobre o atendimento de pacientes oncológicos: experiência de um centro oncológico localizado em um epicentro Latino-Americano da pandemia

ABSTRACT Objective Since the rising of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is uncertainty regarding the impact of transmission to cancer patients. Evidence on increased severity for patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment is posed against deferring oncologic treatment. We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patient volumes in a cancer center in an epicenter of the pandemic. Methods Outpatient and inpatient volumes were extracted from electronic health record database. Two intervals were compared: pre-COVID-19 (March to May 2019) and COVID-19 pandemic (March to May 2020) periods. Results The total number of medical appointments declined by 45% in the COVID-19 period, including a 56.2% decrease in new visits. There was a 27.5% reduction in the number of patients undergoing intravenous systemic treatment and a 57.4% decline in initiation of new treatments. Conversely, there was an increase by 309% in new patients undergoing oral chemotherapy regimens and a 5.9% rise in new patients submitted to radiation therapy in the COVID-19 period. There was a 51.2% decline in length of stay and a 60% reduction in the volume of surgical cases during COVID-19. In the stem cell transplant unit, we observed a reduction by 36.5% in length of stay and a 62.5% drop in stem cell transplants. Conclusion A significant decrease in the number of patients undergoing cancer treatment was observed after COVID-19 pandemic. Although this may be partially overcome by alternative therapeutic options, avoiding timely health care due to fear of getting COVID-19 infection might impact on clinical outcomes. Our findings may help support immediate actions to mitigate this hypothesis.

RESUMO Objetivo Desde o surgimento da pandemia da doença pelo coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19), há incerteza quanto ao impacto da transmissão para pacientes com câncer. As evidências sobre o aumento da gravidade para pacientes submetidos a tratamento antineoplásico são contra o adiamento do tratamento oncológico. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 em volumes de pacientes em um centro oncológico, em um epicentro da pandemia. Métodos Os volumes de pacientes ambulatoriais e de internação foram extraídos do banco de dados de prontuários eletrônicos. Dois intervalos foram comparados: períodos pré-COVID-19 (março a maio de 2019) e pandemia COVID-19 (março a maio de 2020). Resultados O número total de consultas médicas diminuiu 45% no período pandemia COVID-19, inclusive com redução de 56,2% nas novas consultas. Houve redução de 27,5% no número de pacientes em tratamento sistêmico intravenoso e de 57,4% no início de novos tratamentos. Por outro lado, ocorreram aumento de 309% em novos pacientes submetidos a regimes de quimioterapia oral e elevação de 5,9% em novos pacientes submetidos à radioterapia no período pandemia COVID-19. Observaram-se queda de 51,2% nos dias de internação e redução de 60% no volume de casos cirúrgicos durante a COVID-19. Na unidade de transplante de células-tronco, a redução foi de 36,5% nos dias de internação e de 62,5% nos transplantes de células-tronco. Conclusão Foi observado declínio significativo no número de pacientes em tratamento de câncer após a pandemia de COVID-19. Embora isso possa ser parcialmente superado por opções terapêuticas alternativas, evitar cuidados de saúde oportunos devido ao medo de contrair COVID-19 pode impactar nos resultados clínicos. Nossos resultados podem ajudar a apoiar ações imediatas para mitigar essa hipótese.

Oncological care organisation during COVID-19 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 appeared in late 2019, causing a pandemic spread. This led to a reorganisation of oncology care in order to reduce the risk of spreading infection between patients and healthcare staff. Here we analysed measures taken in major oncological units in Europe and the USA. METHODS: A 46-item survey was sent by email to representatives of 30 oncological centres in 12 of the most affected countries. The survey inquired about preventive measures established to reduce virus spread, patient education and processes employed for risk reduction in each oncological unit. RESULTS: Investigators from 21 centres in 10 countries answered the survey between 10 April and 6 May 2020. A triage for patients with cancer before hospital or clinic visits was conducted by 90.5% of centres before consultations, 95.2% before day care admissions and in 100% of the cases before overnight hospitalisation by means of phone calls, interactive online platforms, swab test and/or chest CT scan. Permission for caregivers to attend clinic visits was limited in many centres, with some exceptions (ie, for non-autonomous patients, in the case of a new diagnosis, when bad news was expected and for terminally ill patients). With a variable delay period, the use of personal protective equipment was unanimously mandatory, and in many centres, only targeted clinical and instrumental examinations were performed. Telemedicine was implemented in 76.2% of the centres. Separated pathways for COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative patients were organised, with separate inpatient units and day care areas. Self-isolation was required for COVID-19-positive or symptomatic staff, while return to work policies required a negative swab test in 76.2% of the centres. CONCLUSION: Many pragmatic measures have been quickly implemented to deal with the health emergency linked to COVID-19, although the relative efficacy of each intervention should be further analysed in large observational studies.