Patient care and clinical trials in gynecological oncology: Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authors

null

Sara Nasser

North-Eastern German Society of Gynecological Oncology (NOGGO) and Department of Gynecology with Center for Oncological Surgery, Charité–University Medicine of Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Berlin, Germany

Sara Nasser , Christina Fotopoulou , Murat Guktekin , Desislava Dimitrova , Philippe Morice , Jalid Sehouli

Organizations

North-Eastern German Society of Gynecological Oncology (NOGGO) and Department of Gynecology with Center for Oncological Surgery, Charité–University Medicine of Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Berlin, Germany, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, Department of Surgery, Gustave Roussy Cancer Centre, Villejuif, France

Research Funding

No funding received
None

Background: This is a prospective international Survey to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the management of patients with gynecological malignancies from the multidisciplinary physicians' perspective, with particular focus on clincial infrastructures, and trial participation. Methods: The anonymous online survey consisted of 53 COVID-related questions. It was sent to all healthcare professionals in gynaecological oncology centres across Europe and the Pan-Arabian region from April 2020 to October 2020. All healthcare professionals treating women with gynecological cancers were able to participate in the survey. Results: A total of 243 answers were collected from 30 different countries. The majority (73%) of participants were gynecological oncologists from university hospitals(71%) with at least an Intensive care unit with cardiopulmonary support available at their institutions. Most institutions continued to perform elective surgeries only for oncological cases (98%). Patients had to wait on average 2 weeks longer for their surgery appointments compared to previous years(range 0-12 weeks). Cases that were prioritised for surgical intervention across all tumors (Ovarian, Endometrium, Cervical) were early stage disease (74%), primary situation (61%), and good ECOG status (63%). The radicality of surgery did not change in the majority of cases (78%) across all tumor types. During the pandemic, only 38% of clinicians stated they would start a new clinical trial. 45% stated the pandemic has negatively impacted the financial structure and support for clinical trials. 79% do not routinely screen patients included in trials for SARS CoV2. Overall, approx. 20% of clinicians did not feel well informed regarding clinical pathways for COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic. The majority preferred regular updates and training via Webinars (75%), followed by tumorboards and interdisciplinary conferences (45%). 30% of clinicians stated that they are currently experiencing difficulties in providing adequate medical care due to staff shortage. Conclusions: Despite well-established guidelines for patient care and performing clinical trials in gynecological oncology, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted clinical research, and financial structures. Longer waiting times for operative interventions, less support for clinical trials and concerns regarding provision of adequate medical care and triaging patients are very real. This survey underlines the necessity for building robust emergency algorithms tailored to gynecological oncology patients in the future.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Gynecologic Cancer

Track

Gynecologic Cancer

Sub Track

Ovarian Cancer

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr 5564)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.5564

Abstract #

5564

Poster Bd #

Online Only

Abstract Disclosures

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