Childhood cancer survivorship care during the COVID-19 pandemic : an international report of practice implications and provider concerns
(2022) In Journal of Cancer Survivorship 16(6). p.1390-1400- Abstract
Purpose: Long-term follow-up (LTFU) care is essential to optimise health outcomes in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LTFU services and providers. Methods: A COVID-19 working group within the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group (IGHG) distributed a questionnaire to LTFU service providers in 37 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, Central/South America, and Australia. The questionnaire assessed how care delivery methods changed during the pandemic and respondents’ level of worry about the pandemic’s impact on LTFU care delivery, their finances, their health, and that of their family and friends. Results: Among 226 institutions,... (More)
Purpose: Long-term follow-up (LTFU) care is essential to optimise health outcomes in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LTFU services and providers. Methods: A COVID-19 working group within the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group (IGHG) distributed a questionnaire to LTFU service providers in 37 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, Central/South America, and Australia. The questionnaire assessed how care delivery methods changed during the pandemic and respondents’ level of worry about the pandemic’s impact on LTFU care delivery, their finances, their health, and that of their family and friends. Results: Among 226 institutions, providers from 178 (79%) responded. Shortly after the initial outbreak, 42% of LTFU clinics closed. Restrictions during the pandemic resulted in fewer in-person consultations and an increased use of telemedicine, telephone, and email consultations. The use of a risk assessment to prioritise the method of LTFU consultation for individual CCS increased from 12 to 47%. While respondents anticipated in-person consultations to remain the primary method for LTFU service delivery, they expected significantly increased use of telemedicine and telephone consultations after the pandemic. On average, respondents reported highest levels of worry about psychosocial well-being of survivors. Conclusions: The pandemic necessitated changes in LTFU service delivery, including greater use of virtual LTFU care and risk-stratification to identify CCS that need in-person evaluations. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Increased utilisation of virtual LTFU care and risk stratification is likely to persist post-pandemic.
(Less)
- author
- author collaboration
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Childhood cancer, COVID-19, Long-term follow-up care, Paediatric oncology
- in
- Journal of Cancer Survivorship
- volume
- 16
- issue
- 6
- pages
- 1390 - 1400
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:35020136
- scopus:85122819007
- ISSN
- 1932-2259
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11764-021-01120-9
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 63b37073-e874-47ea-ab26-ac02998a61bb
- date added to LUP
- 2022-02-24 12:58:33
- date last changed
- 2024-04-06 11:56:45
@article{63b37073-e874-47ea-ab26-ac02998a61bb,
abstract = {{<p>Purpose: Long-term follow-up (LTFU) care is essential to optimise health outcomes in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LTFU services and providers. Methods: A COVID-19 working group within the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group (IGHG) distributed a questionnaire to LTFU service providers in 37 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, Central/South America, and Australia. The questionnaire assessed how care delivery methods changed during the pandemic and respondents’ level of worry about the pandemic’s impact on LTFU care delivery, their finances, their health, and that of their family and friends. Results: Among 226 institutions, providers from 178 (79%) responded. Shortly after the initial outbreak, 42% of LTFU clinics closed. Restrictions during the pandemic resulted in fewer in-person consultations and an increased use of telemedicine, telephone, and email consultations. The use of a risk assessment to prioritise the method of LTFU consultation for individual CCS increased from 12 to 47%. While respondents anticipated in-person consultations to remain the primary method for LTFU service delivery, they expected significantly increased use of telemedicine and telephone consultations after the pandemic. On average, respondents reported highest levels of worry about psychosocial well-being of survivors. Conclusions: The pandemic necessitated changes in LTFU service delivery, including greater use of virtual LTFU care and risk-stratification to identify CCS that need in-person evaluations. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Increased utilisation of virtual LTFU care and risk stratification is likely to persist post-pandemic.</p>}},
author = {{van den Oever, Selina R. and Pluijm, Saskia M.F. and Skinner, Rod and Glaser, Adam and Mulder, Renée L. and Armenian, Saro and Bardi, Edit and Berger, Claire and Ehrhardt, Matthew J. and Gilleland Marchak, Jordan and Haeusler, Gabrielle M. and Hartogh, Jaap den and Hjorth, Lars and Kepak, Tomas and Kriviene, Izolda and Langer, Thorsten and Maeda, Miho and Márquez-Vega, Catalina and Michel, Gisela and Muraca, Monica and Najib, Mohamed and Nathan, Paul C. and Panasiuk, Anna and Prasad, Maya and Roganovic, Jelena and Uyttebroeck, Anne and Winther, Jeanette F. and Zadravec Zaletel, Lorna and van Dalen, Elvira C. and van der Pal, Helena J.H. and Hudson, Melissa M. and Kremer, Leontien C.M.}},
issn = {{1932-2259}},
keywords = {{Childhood cancer; COVID-19; Long-term follow-up care; Paediatric oncology}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{6}},
pages = {{1390--1400}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Journal of Cancer Survivorship}},
title = {{Childhood cancer survivorship care during the COVID-19 pandemic : an international report of practice implications and provider concerns}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11764-021-01120-9}},
doi = {{10.1007/s11764-021-01120-9}},
volume = {{16}},
year = {{2022}},
}