Variable Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Radiation Oncology Practices
Ce dossier présente un ensemble d'articles concernant la prise en charge des cancers durant la crise sanitaire liée au COVID-19
Early in the pandemic, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) surveyed physician leaders at U.S. radiation oncology practices to understand how the field was responding to the outbreak of COVID-19. Surveys were repeated at multiple points during the pandemic, with a response rate of 43% in April 2020 and 23% in January 2021. To our knowledge, this is the only longitudinal COVID-19 practice survey in oncology in the U.S. The surveys indicate that patient access to essential radiation oncology services in the United States has been preserved throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Safety protocols were universally adopted, telehealth was widely adopted and remains in use, and most clinics no longer deferred or postponed radiation treatments as of early 2021. Late-stage disease presentation, treatment interruptions, PPE shortages, and vaccination barriers were reported significantly more at community-based practices than academic practices, and rural practices appear to have faced increased obstacles. These findings provide unique insights into the initial longitudinal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of radiation therapy in the United States. Downstream lessons in service adaptation and improvement can potentially be guided by formal concepts of resilience, which have been broadly embraced across the U.S. economy.
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics , résumé, 2022