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- Title
The tele-transition of toxicity management in routine oncology care during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.
- Authors
Rasschaert, Marika; Vanclooster, Pieterjan; Mertens, Tim; Roelant, Ella; Lesage, Katrien; Prenen, Hans; Verlinden, Anke; van Brussel, Ilse; Ravelingien, Jo; Janssens, Annelies; Van Dam, Peter; Peeters, Marc
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Telehealth modalities were introduced during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to assure continuation of cancer care and maintain social distance.<bold>Methods: </bold>This is a retrospective cohort analysis of our telehealth expansion programme. We adapted two existing patient-reported outcome (PRO) telemonitoring tools that register and (self-)manage toxicities to therapy, while screening for SARS-CoV-2-related symptoms. Outpatients from a tertiary cancer centre were enrolled. The adapted PRO interface allowed for uniform registration of SARS-CoV-2-related symptoms and effective triage of patients at home where we also implemented systematic throat washings, when available.<bold>Results: </bold>Three hundred and sixty patients registered to the telemonitoring systems from March 13 to May 15, 2020. Four prespecified SARS-CoV-2 alarms resulted in three patients with positive PCR testing. Other Covid-19 symptoms (fever 5× and cough 2×) led to pretreatment triage resulting in 1 seroconversion after initial negative testing. One of the 477 throat washings proved positive.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>The rapid adoption of an amended PRO (self-)registrations and toxicity management system was feasible and coordinated screening for Covid-19. Continued clinical cancer care was maintained, with significant decreased waiting time. The systemic screening with throat washings offered no real improvement.
- Publication
British Journal of Cancer, 2021, Vol 124, Issue 8, p1366
- ISSN
0007-0920
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1038/s41416-020-01235-3