The psychological impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on patients with neuroendocrine tumors: Between resilience and vulnerability

Lauricella, E; Cives, Mauro; Bracigliano, Alessandra; Clemente, Ottavia; Felici, V.; Lippolis, R.; Amoruso, B.; Pellè, Eleonora; Mandriani, Barbara; Esposto, Chiara; Forte, Cira Antonietta; Perri, Francesco; Porta, Camillo; Tafuto, Salvatore

doi:10.1111/jne.13041

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Interestingly, the prevalence of anxiety and depression also seems to increase over the course of the pandemic waves. In an Italian study by Lauricella, this effect was shown within the 1st and 2nd pandemic waves for NET patients [24]. Since our survey was conducted during the 3rd wave, the higher rates of psycho-emotional distress can be better explained.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

The Patient’s Point of View: COVID-19 and Neuroendocrine Tumor Disease

Krug

Khosravian

Weißbach

et al. 2022

Cancers

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The assessment of cancer patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic has been mainly reported from a physician’s perspective. Patients with rare tumor entities such as neuroendocrine tumors (NET), which require a complex and specialized care infrastructure, were highly affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Using a structured questionnaire consisting of a general section on the disease and a special COVID-19 section to record medical care, vaccination behavior as well as social and psycho-emotional parameters were collected from NET patients. The survey was distributed via direct medical contact and via the patient organization NETZWERK NeT. A total of 684 patients participated in the survey and 79.2% (n = 542) of the participants answered the questionnaire completely (54 questions). Patient characteristics were comparable to those in large NET registries. The majority of participants were patients with pancreatic and small bowel NET on somatostatin analogue (SSA) therapy. Medical care under COVID-19 was adequate and appointment cancellations and postponements were not common. Nevertheless, the majority of patients were worried about adequate treatment for their tumor disease during the crisis. Most of the participants considered themselves to be at risk of severe COVID-19 infection and were therefore very concerned. This was accompanied by an extremely high vaccination readiness rate of 90%. Increased distress in the social and psycho-emotional domains in the course of the crisis reflected a need for optimization in the medical care of NET patients, although the rate of COVID-19 positive participants was low (3.7%). Therefore, patient-reported measurements are required to identify and address all areas of medical care. Overall, our survey provides an essential contribution to the care of NET patients during the COVID-19 pandemic from the patient’s perspective.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

The Patient’s Point of View: COVID-19 and Neuroendocrine Tumor Disease

Krug

Khosravian

Weißbach

et al. 2022

Cancers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…First, given the possible persistence of the pandemic, the decrease of surgical volumes could potentially lead to the diagnosis of a higher rate of advanced stage diseases in the future. Second, delays in initiating treatment of patients well known to already experience long diagnostic delays, 20 may have a profound psychological impact. In this regard, recent evidence has already shown a surge in depression and anxiety rates among NET patients subsequent to the initiation of the COVID‐19 outbreak 21 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID‐19 on the management of neuroendocrine tumors (NETS): An international NET CONNECT survey of NET patients and healthcare professionals treating net patients

Cives

Hernando

Lamarca

et al. 2022

J Neuroendocrinology

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The COVID-19 outbreak has added complexity in the management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Little information is currently available regarding the real impact of the pandemic in current practice. The present study aimed to capture patients' and healthcare professionals' experiences on how the NET management has changed during the pandemic and how it should be modified in a foreseeable postpandemic environment. Physicians and nurses working in ENETS Centers of Excellence or other hospitals with high volume of NET patients (n = 48), as well as NET patients residing worldwide (n = 353), were asked to respond to two online anonymous surveys addressing different aspects of NET care. Deferred diagnoses, delayed surveillance procedures and postponed elective surgeries were among the main negative consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak according to 40%, 54% and 46% of healthcare professionals (HPs) respectively. Somatostatin analogs were increasingly used as bridging strategy for delaying surgery based on the views of 31% of HPs and were self-injected or delivered by home care services more frequently than before the initiation of the pandemic (53% of patients during the pandemic vs. 44% before the pandemic). Multidisciplinary tumor boards kept their usual schedule according to 58% of HPs, but were held virtually in the 77% of cases. The contact with healthcare professionals was maintained by remote methods more often than in the past (69% of patients), but only 34% of patients (59% among subjects < 41 years) would prefer telemedicine to face-to-face consultations in the future. New health policy measures should guarantee the highest standard of treatment to NET patients, regardless of the trajectory followed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the next months. Pros and cons of telemedicine should be carefully weighted before systematic implementation.

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The psychological impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on patients with neuroendocrine tumors: Between resilience and vulnerability

Cited by 2 publications

References 47 publications

The Patient’s Point of View: COVID-19 and Neuroendocrine Tumor Disease

The Patient’s Point of View: COVID-19 and Neuroendocrine Tumor Disease

The impact of COVID‐19 on the management of neuroendocrine tumors (NETS): An international NET CONNECT survey of NET patients and healthcare professionals treating net patients

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