Scientia Potentia Est: How the Italian World of Oncology Changes in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ballatore, Z.; Bastianelli, Lucia; Merloni, Filippo; Ranallo, Nicoletta; Cantini, Luca; Marcantognini, Giulia; Berardi, Rossana

doi:10.1200/go.20.00209

Cited by 19 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…This assumption had a great impact on scheduled treatment and on clinical reorganization and induced anxiety and fears in patients, as well as in oncology healthcare professionals. 7 , 12 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer patient perspective in the arena of COVID‐19 pandemic

et al. 2021

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Objective The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak has been declared a global pandemic of unprecedented proportions. Italy is a country which has been heavily affected. Cancer patients are at a higher risk owing to their intrinsic fragility related to their underlying disease and oncologic treatment. Against this backdrop, we conducted a survey to investigate how patients perceived their condition, clinical management and availability of information during the pandemic. Methods Between 15 April and 1 May 2020 a survey was submitted to cancer patients at oncology departments in the Marche region. Questions regarding the perception of personal safety, continuity of cancer care, information quality and psychological distress. Results Seven hundred patients participated in the survey; 59% were female and 40% were aged between 46 and 65. The majority of the participants perceived compliance with appropriate safety standards by cancer care providers and 80% were reassured about their concerns during the medical interview. 40% were worried of being at a higher risk of infection and 71% felt they were at a greater risk because of chemotherapy. 55% felt that postponing cancer treatment could reduce its efficacy, however 76% declared they did not feel abandoned at the time of treatment postponement. Patients between 46 and 65 years declared a significant reduction in sleep ( p < 0.01) and in concentration ( p = 0.03). Conclusions The emergency care offered to cancer patients has been deemed satisfactory in terms of both safety standards and care management. However, the majority of participants perceived the mutual negative influence between their oncologic disease and the risk of infection highlighting the need for special measures to ensure safe continuity of care.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer patient perspective in the arena of COVID‐19 pandemic

et al. 2021

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“…COVID-19 disease outbreak between late 2019 and 2020 has dramatically changed people's everyday life. All countries around the world are engaged in a massive struggle in order to slow down the pandemic and protect the population, in particular the frailest groups [14]. Patients and healthcare workers have been negatively impacted by the ongoing pandemic, not only physically but mentally too [15].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2–Specific Antibodies in Cancer Patients Undergoing Active Systemic Treatment: A Single-Center Experience from the Marche Region, Italy

Cantini

Bastianelli

Lupi

et al. 2021

JCM

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence in cancer patients may vary widely dependent on the geographic area and this has significant implications for oncological care. The aim of this observational, prospective study was to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG antibodies in solid cancer patients referred to the academic institution of the Marche Region, Italy, between 1 July and 26 October 2020 and to determine the accuracy of the rapid serological test. After performing 3767 GCCOV-402a rapid serological tests on a total of 949 patients, seroconversion was initially observed in 13 patients (1.4%). Ten (77% of the total positive) were IgG-positive, 1 (8%) were IgM-positive and 2 (15%) IgM-positive/IgG-positive. However, only 7 out of 13 were confirmed as positive at the reference serological test (true positives), thus seroprevalence after cross-checking was 0.7%. No false negatives were reported. The kappa value of the consistency analysis was 0.71. Due to rapid serological test high false positive rate, its role in assessing seroconversion rate is limited, and the standard serological tests should remain the gold standard. However, as rapid test negative predictive value is high, GCCOV-402a may instead be useful to monitor patient immunity over time, thus helping to assist ongoing vaccination programs.

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“…A model using the current pandemic context predicts that cancer-related cases and deaths attributed to COVID-19 will be a significant burden on health systems in Latin America, 45 but studies using empirical data are lacking in this space. One study tackled cancer care in the era of COVID-19: A survey of oncology health professionals in Italy indicated that 93% of their departments had reorganized routine clinical activity due to COVID-19, but only 41% felt adequately trained about the new COVID-19 required procedures 46 (#621, Type V). The heterogeneity of responses and the lack of evidence regarding responses in LMICs need to be further investigated.…”

Section: Malariamentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Systems and Services During COVID-19: Lessons and Evidence From Previous Crises: A Rapid Scoping Review to Inform the United Nations Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery

Baral

2021

Int J Health Serv

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This rapid scoping review has informed the development of the November 2020 United Nations Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery, by providing a synthesis of available evidence on the impact of pandemics and epidemics on (1) essential services and (2) health systems preparedness and strengthening. Emerging findings point to existing disparities in health systems and services being further exacerbated, with marginalized populations and low- and middle-income countries burdened disproportionately. More broadly, there is a need to further understand short- and long-term impacts of bypassed essential services, quality assurance of services, the role of primary health care in the frontline, and the need for additional mechanisms for effective vaccine messaging and uptake during epidemics. The review also highlights how trust—of institutions, of science, and between communities and health systems—remains central to a successful pandemic response. Finally, previous crises had repeatedly foreshadowed the inability of health systems to handle upcoming pandemics, yet the reactive nature of policies and practices compounded by lack of resources, infrastructure, and political will have resulted in the current failed response to COVID-19. There is therefore an urgent need for investments in implementation science and for strategies to bridge this persistent research–practice gap.

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Scientia Potentia Est: How the Italian World of Oncology Changes in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 19 publications

References 12 publications

Cancer patient perspective in the arena of COVID‐19 pandemic

Cancer patient perspective in the arena of COVID‐19 pandemic

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2–Specific Antibodies in Cancer Patients Undergoing Active Systemic Treatment: A Single-Center Experience from the Marche Region, Italy

Health Systems and Services During COVID-19: Lessons and Evidence From Previous Crises: A Rapid Scoping Review to Inform the United Nations Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery

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