Nationwide Survey of German Outpatient Gynecologic Oncology Practices during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Reactions to the First Wave and Future Perspectives

Breast care

article

Vu, Erwin¹  Schröder, Christina²  Dülk, Jonas³  Stelmes, Jean-Jacques⁴  Vu, Jennifer³  Schilling, Jörg⁵  Förster, Frank Gerhard⁶  Förster, Robert² 

[1] Department of Radiation Oncology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen;Institute for Radiation Oncology, Cantonal Hospital Winterthur;Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen;Department of Radiation Oncology, Oncological Institute of Southern Switzerland, Cantonal Hospitals;Gemeinschaftspraxis Dres. med. Schilling;MVZ Flemmingstraße;Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Applied Sciences Zwickau;Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich

关键词: Coronavirus disease 2019;    Pandemic;    First wave;    Gynecologic oncology;    Patient care;   

DOI  :  10.1159/000518858

学科分类：泌尿医学

来源: S Karger AG

【 摘 要 】

Introduction: In the spring of 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 posed a substantial challenge for countries and their healthcare systems. In Germany, over 70% of all cancer patients are treated in an outpatient setting, so gynecologic oncology practices are the guarantors of optimal patient care. We developed a survey to evaluate the management of gynecologic oncology patients. Methods: The survey consisted of 38 questions and was sent to the members of the Berufsverband Niedergelassener Gynäkologischer Onkologen in Deutschland e.V. (BNGO), a professional association of gynecologic oncologists in the outpatient sector in Germany. Results: The survey was completed by 54 out of 133 (41%) gynecologic oncologists from 14 out of 15 (93%) federal states where the BNGO is represented. Facing the pandemic, popular measures were mask requirements (100%), restriction of access to practices (94%), increased number of disinfectant dispensers (85%), installment of panes of acrylic glass (76%), or spatial alterations (67%). For most patients the pandemic had no influence on prioritization of therapies (82%) or prescribed systemic treatments (87%). Despite an increase in perceived psychological burden among the staff (72%), 85% (45/54) of the practices were not offered any additional psychological support. Discussion and Conclusion: As most cancer patients in Germany are treated in an outpatient setting, a suitable reaction of oncology centers to the new circumstances was crucial to secure optimal treatment and patient care. Nevertheless, the low prioritization of mental health or distress of healthcare workers poses a serious threat to the maintenance of optimal medical care in further waves of the pandemic.

【 授权许可】

CC BY