Reorganisation of medical oncology departments during the novel coronavirus disease-19 pandemic: a nationwide Italian survey

Abstract

word count: 244. Abstract:The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARSCoV-2) pandemic is a global health problem, which started to affect China by the end of year 2019. In Europe, Italy has faced this novel disease entity (named COVID-19) first and severely. COVID-19 represents a significant hurdle for public health services and a potential harm for patients with cancer. The Collegio Italiano dei Primari Oncologi Medici (CIPOMO) is an Italian association of head physicians in oncology departments, which promotes working and research activities in oncology on a national basis. In the midst of the epidemic in Italy, the CIPOMO promoted a national survey aiming to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on clinical activity of oncologists and the implementation of containment measures of COVID-19 diffusion. Overall, 122 head physicians participated in this survey, with a homogeneous distribution on the national territory. Results show that the following measures for oncologic patients have been promptly implemented through the whole country: use of protective devices, triage of patients accessing the hospital, delay of non-urgent visits, and use of telemedicine. Results of this survey suggest that Italian oncology departments have promptly set a proactive approach to the actual emergency. Oncologists need to preserve the continuum of care of patients, as the benefit of ensuring a well-delivered anti-cancer treatment plan outweighs the risk of COVID-19 infection. International cooperation is an important starting point, as heavily affected nations can serve as an example to find out ways to safely preserve health activity during pandemic. Acknowledgments:We thank all the CIPOMO members for participating in the present survey, thereby making this work possible to be shared in the oncologists' community.Fundings: no funding was obtained for the present investigation.

Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on pediatric oncology care in the Middle East, North Africa, and West Asia region: A report from the Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) group

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“…The questionnaire was then set up using online Microsoft forms (Microsoft Corporation) and was distributed by email (April [11][12][13][14][15][16]2020) to heads of the 82 pediatric oncology units that have members within the POEM group. 9,10 Participants were asked to complete the survey form by April 22, 2020.…”

Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in France: a national assessment of at-risk populations

“…European countries have increased the use of telehealth systems to reduce the number of hospital visits. In Italy, these changes in care lead to many questions for patients, which can generate severe stress or anxiety (21).…”

How COVID-19 pandemic has changed haematological care

“…We present impact of the pandemic on both our organization and our patients. Share of experience from other countries was very important (13). This study gives an insight on how this crisis can modify haematological care: an increasing place for tele-health (14) and a larger reliance on home hospitalisation structures.…”