TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Canadian Radiation Oncology Practices
AU - Doll, Corinne M.
AU - Wakefield, Daniel V.
AU - Ringash, Jolie
AU - Ingledew, Paris Ann
AU - Dawson, Laura A.
AU - Eichler, Thomas
AU - Schwartz, David L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank Emily Wilson (American Society for Radiation Oncology) for coordinating the survey, and the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology Secretariat for their assistance in circulating the surveys.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2022/7/1
Y1 - 2022/7/1
N2 - Purpose: To survey Canadian radiation oncology (RO) practice leaders to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiation services and patient and staff issues in the early phase of the pandemic and 1 year later. Methods and Materials: The RO leader (department or division head) from every Canadian cancer center with radiation services was identified. Two surveys were circulated to the identified leader via email from the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology central office, using the SurveyMonkey survey tool: the first closed in June 2020 and the second (expanded) survey in June 2021, representing 2 points in time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions included patient volume, service interruptions and delays, and changes in scheduling and telemedicine use. Additional questions were included in the follow-up survey to determine further effects on disease presentation, volume, vaccination and access, and personnel issues. Results: Telemedicine was widely adopted early in the pandemic and continued to be a common technique to communicate and connect with patients. Although many centers were deferring or delaying certain disease sites early in the pandemic, this was not as prevalent 1 year later. Reduced cancer screening and patients presenting with more advanced disease were concerns documented in the 2021 survey. A high level of concern regarding stress among health care professionals was identified. Conclusions: Canadian RO centers have faced numerous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic but continued to provide timely and essential cancer care for patients with cancer. Future evaluation of RO center practices will be important to continue to document and address the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on issues relevant to RO leaders, patients, and staff.
AB - Purpose: To survey Canadian radiation oncology (RO) practice leaders to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiation services and patient and staff issues in the early phase of the pandemic and 1 year later. Methods and Materials: The RO leader (department or division head) from every Canadian cancer center with radiation services was identified. Two surveys were circulated to the identified leader via email from the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology central office, using the SurveyMonkey survey tool: the first closed in June 2020 and the second (expanded) survey in June 2021, representing 2 points in time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions included patient volume, service interruptions and delays, and changes in scheduling and telemedicine use. Additional questions were included in the follow-up survey to determine further effects on disease presentation, volume, vaccination and access, and personnel issues. Results: Telemedicine was widely adopted early in the pandemic and continued to be a common technique to communicate and connect with patients. Although many centers were deferring or delaying certain disease sites early in the pandemic, this was not as prevalent 1 year later. Reduced cancer screening and patients presenting with more advanced disease were concerns documented in the 2021 survey. A high level of concern regarding stress among health care professionals was identified. Conclusions: Canadian RO centers have faced numerous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic but continued to provide timely and essential cancer care for patients with cancer. Future evaluation of RO center practices will be important to continue to document and address the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on issues relevant to RO leaders, patients, and staff.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.03.017
DO - 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.03.017
M3 - Article
C2 - 35318953
AN - SCOPUS:85131344293
SN - 0360-3016
VL - 113
SP - 513
EP - 517
JO - International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
JF - International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
IS - 3
ER -