Deferring Elective Urologic Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Patients’ Perspective

Abstract

Objectives To explore the perspective of urological patients on the possibility to defer elective surgery due to the fear of contracting COVID-19. Methods All patients scheduled for elective urological procedures for malignant or benign diseases at two high-volume Centres were administered a questionnaire, through structured telephone interviews, between 24 th and 27 th April 2020. The questionnaire included three questions: 1) In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, would you defer the planned surgical intervention? 2) If yes, when would you be willing to undergo surgery? 3) What do you consider potentially more harmful for your health: the risk of contracting COVID-19 during hospitalization or the potential consequences of delaying surgical treatment? Results Overall, 332 patients were included (51.5% and 48.5% in the oncology and benign groups, respectively). Of these, 47.9% patients would have deferred the planned intervention (33.3% vs 63.4%; p<0.001), while the proportion of patients who would have preferred to delay surgery for more than six months was comparable between the groups (87% vs 80%). These answers were influenced by patient age and ASA score (in the Oncology group) and by the underlying urological condition (in the benign group). Finally, 182 (54.8%) patients considered the risk of COVID-19 potentially more harmful than the risk of delaying surgery (37% vs 73%; p<0.001). This answer was driven by patient age and the underlying disease in both groups. Conclusions Our findings reinforce the importance of shared decision-making before urological surgery, leveraging patients’ values and expectations to refine the paradigm of evidence-based medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

The perception of patient safety in an alternate site of care for elective surgery during the first wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom: a survey of 158 patients

“…Widespread reports indicate that even when services have been re-established, patients have been reluctant, and afraid to take up scheduled appointments [9][10][11]. Hospitals have put a number of mitigations in place: COVID-19 testing programmes for patients and staff; separating emergency and planned elective patient cohorts from each other; enhanced cleaning programmes; restricting access to hospital sites including access for patient visitors; requiring patients to self-isolate for up to 14 days before a procedure or surgery.…”

Antecedents of Individuals’ Concerns Regarding Hospital Hygiene and Surgery Postponement During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional, Web-Based Survey Study

“…Such information is necessary for training health care workers to develop psychological skills for helping patients who experience worry, anxiety, and other emotional problems. It is also necessary to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic affects people’s reactions when they or a person close to them needs to be hospitalized to undergo surgery for treating an illness [ 11 , 12 ]. Studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic poses a considerable challenge to routine medical services.…”

Antecedents of Individuals’ Concerns Regarding Hospital Hygiene and Surgery Postponement During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional, Web-Based Survey Study (Preprint)

“…Such information is necessary for training health care workers to develop psychological skills for helping patients who experience worry, anxiety, and other emotional problems. It is also necessary to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic affects people's reactions when they or a person close to them needs to be hospitalized to undergo surgery for treating an illness [11,12]. Studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic poses a considerable challenge to routine medical services.…”