TY - JOUR
T1 - Reorganisation of medical oncology departments during the novel coronavirus disease-19 pandemic
T2 - a nationwide Italian survey
AU - Indini, Alice
AU - Aschele, Carlo
AU - Cavanna, Luigi
AU - Clerico, Mario
AU - Daniele, Bruno
AU - Fiorentini, Giammaria
AU - Fioretto, Luisa
AU - Giordano, Monica
AU - Montesarchio, Vincenzo
AU - Ortega, Cinzia
AU - Pinotti, Graziella
AU - Scanni, Alberto
AU - Zamagni, Claudio
AU - Blasi, Livio
AU - Grossi, Francesco
PY - 2020/6
Y1 - 2020/6
N2 - The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic is a global health problem, which started to affect China by the end of 2019. In Europe, Italy has faced this novel disease entity (named novel coronavirus disease [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 the pandemic.
AB - The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic is a global health problem, which started to affect China by the end of 2019. In Europe, Italy has faced this novel disease entity (named novel coronavirus disease [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 the pandemic.
KW - Cancer
KW - Coronavirus
KW - Health care
KW - Infection
KW - Oncology
KW - Pandemic
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.03.024
DO - 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.03.024
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85083316932
VL - 132
SP - 17
EP - 23
JO - European Journal of Cancer
JF - European Journal of Cancer
SN - 0959-8049
ER -