Response of an oncology unit in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak

Liontos, Michalis; Kastritis, Efstathios; Migkou, Magdalini; Koutsoukos, Konstantinos; Eleutherakis‐Papaiakovou, Evangelos; Gavriatopoulou, Maria; Ψαλτοπούλου, Θεοδώρα; Zagouri, Flora; Terpos, Evangelos; Dimopoulos, Meletios A.

doi:10.1177/1078155220967973

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…However, the early implementation of the preventive measures in our unit resulted in a low rate of infection even in the second wave, which started in September. These measures included strict protective strategies both for personnel and patients early in the course of the pandemic [ 10 ] that were further refined, evolved, and updated with the developing situation and the publication of international guidelines.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following guidance from the Greek Health Care Authorities, international organizations, and oncological societies, a series of protective measures were implemented by the Oncology/Hematology Unit and were approved by the Infection Committee of our hospital. These measures have already been published along with their results up to June 2020 [ 10 ], and are described in more detail in Supplemental Table S1 . In brief, the following actions were implemented: all patients receiving intravenous chemotherapy had to practice appropriate hand hygiene and wear masks for the entire time that they remained in the hospital premises.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, most cancer centers have developed strategies to mitigate risks and continue patient care. Our center, a tertiary referral unit, has developed and implemented such strategies since the beginning of the pandemic, and has updated them accordingly as the characteristics of the pandemic change and testing becomes more widely available [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Continuing Cancer Therapy through the Pandemic While Protecting Our Patients: Results of the Implementation of Preventive Strategies in a Referral Oncology Unit

Liontos

Kastritis

Markellos

et al. 2021

Cancers

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Cancer patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 have worse outcomes, including higher morbidity and mortality than the general population. Protecting this vulnerable group of patients from COVID-19 is of the utmost importance for the continuous operation of an oncology unit. Preventive strategies have been proposed by various societies, and centers around the world have implemented these or modified measures; however, the efficacy of these measures has not been evaluated. In our center, a referral oncology/hematology unit in Athens, Greece, we implemented strict protective measures from the outset of the pandemic in the country and we have prospectively recorded the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19. Among 11,618 patient visits performed in our unit, 26 patients (case-to-visit ratio of 0.22%) were found positive for SARS-CoV-2, including 4 (1%) among 392 patients that were screened before starting primary systemic treatment. Among patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 22 were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis; subsequently, 12 required hospitalization and 5 died due to COVID-19. Detailed contact tracing indicated that there was no in-unit transmission of the infection. Thus, strict implementation of multilevel protective strategies along with a modestly intense screening program allowed us to continue cancer care in our unit through the pandemic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Continuing Cancer Therapy through the Pandemic While Protecting Our Patients: Results of the Implementation of Preventive Strategies in a Referral Oncology Unit

Liontos

Kastritis

Markellos

et al. 2021

Cancers

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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young oncologists: The Greek perspective

Ntanasis-Stathopoulos,

Filippatos,

Levva

et al. 2024

Forum of Clinical Oncology

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Background The global impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on health professionals has been profound. In response to these circumstances, the coordination committee of the Hellenic Group of Young Oncologists (HeGYO) embarked on an investigation into the well-being of its members. Methods For the purposes of this study, we developed a 44-question questionnaire. The responses were electronically collected and exported into data frames, which were then subjected to statistical analyses. Results The study cohort comprised 77 oncologists, of whom 81.7% (n=67) were under the age of 40. Survey responses highlighted the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young oncologists in Greece, with 67.5% (n=52) feeling that their work lives have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, 74% (n=57) experiencing changes in duties, and 74.0% (n=57) reporting increased working hours. Additionally, 82% (n=63) of participants reassessed their work–life balance. Notably, 92.2% (n=71) expressed fears of COVID-19 contamination, unrelated to the perceived quality of protective measures (p=0.291). Time allocated to clinical and pre-clinical research was also decreased, as reported by 36.4% (n=28) and 41.6% (n=32) respectively. Surprisingly, the pandemic did not prompt the initiation of unhealthy habits, but 51.2% (n=40) reported a reduction in physical activity. Conclusions In summary, this study reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the professional landscape for young oncologists in Greece, impacting work dynamics, research productivity, and overall well-being. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions during emergencies in the healthcare in order to maintain a resilient workforce in oncology.

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Response of an oncology unit in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak

Cited by 2 publications

References 10 publications

Continuing Cancer Therapy through the Pandemic While Protecting Our Patients: Results of the Implementation of Preventive Strategies in a Referral Oncology Unit

Continuing Cancer Therapy through the Pandemic While Protecting Our Patients: Results of the Implementation of Preventive Strategies in a Referral Oncology Unit

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young oncologists: The Greek perspective

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