Primum non Nocere: How to ensure continuity of care and prevent cancer patients from being overlooked during the COVID‐ 19 pandemic. (27th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agostinelli, Veronica; De Filippis, Chiara; Torniai, Mariangela; Rocchi, Marco Bruno Luigi; Pagliacci, Alessandra; Ricci, Giulia; Corsi, Rosina; Luzi, Paolo; Caporossi, Michele; Berardi, Rossana
• Is Part Of: Cancer medicine. Volume 12:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 1821
• Page End: 1828
• Publication Date: 2022-06-27
• Subjects: cancer management -- medical oncology -- psychosocial studies -- viral infection; 616.994005
• DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4986
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7634

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has spread to all countries since December 2019, triggering a pandemic within weeks of the initial outbreak. Doctors were presented with the challenge of having to reimagine the traditional hospital organisation in order to effectively manage patients. Patients and Methods: During the months of the COVID‐19 pandemic our Institution was assisted by a call‐center (CC) that triaged cancer patients planned for follow‐up in our outpatient clinics: C1 (for female cancers), C2 (for gastrointestinal, urogenital, and thoracic tumours), and D1 (for melanoma and for patients with tumours in over 5 years follow up). Data refers to the period between 15 April and 3 July 2020. Results: A total of 1054 patients have been included in our study and 1005 (95%) of the contacts were successful. The analysis showed a majority of female patients (74%) and patients affected by breast cancer (56%). Among the options provided 646 patients (92.4%) opted for online consultancy. Conclusion: This study has shown that cancer patients valued technology‐mediated follow‐up visits mainly during the beginning of the pandemic because patients themselves were afraid to come to the hospital. Although telemedicine has intrinsic limitations, it is important for providing assistance and preventing cancer patients from feeling isolated during an emergency. Abstract : Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has spread to every Country causing pandemic in few weeks. Physicians were asked to redefine ordinary Hospital organization to manage patients. A total of 1054 patients have been included in our study and 1005 (95%) of the contacts were successful. This study shows that cancer patients do appreciate technology‐mediated follow up visit mostly during the beginning of pandemic because patients themselves were afraid to come to the hospital.