Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral to and delivery of gynecologic oncology care

Shaina F. Bruce; Bridget Huysman; Jinai Bharucha; L. Stewart Massad; Mary M. Mullen; Andrea R. Hagemann; Katherine C. Fuh; Carolyn K. McCourt; Premal H. Thaker; Dineo Khabele; Matthew A. Powell; David G. Mutch; Lindsay M. Kuroki

doi:10.1016/j.gore.2022.100928

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral to and delivery of gynecologic oncology care

Shaina F. Bruce, Bridget Huysman, Jinai Bharucha, L. Stewart Massad, Mary M. Mullen, Andrea R. Hagemann, Katherine C. Fuh, Carolyn K. McCourt, Premal H. Thaker, Dineo Khabele, Matthew A. Powell, David G. Mutch, Lindsay M. Kuroki

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral to and delivery of gynecologic oncology care at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients referred for evaluation by a gynecologic oncologist at Washington University in St. Louis from October 2019 – February 2020 (pre-COVID-19), and April - August 2020 (COVID-19). The primary outcome, time from referral to evaluation by a gynecologic oncologist, was compared between the two time periods. Secondary outcomes included time from initial evaluation to treatment and delays/interruptions in care due to the pandemic. Sub-group analyses were performed on patients with a cancer diagnosis to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on treatment decision making. Results: 884 patients were referred during the study period. Total referrals fell by 32% (526 to 358 patients, p < 0.001) and referrals for cancer fell by 18% (228 to 188 patients, p = 0.049). The pandemic did not impact time from referral to initial gynecologic oncology appointment overall (pre-COVID-19: 19.1 vs. COVID-19: 17.4 days, p = 0.315) or among patients with cancer (14.4 vs. 13.9 days, p = 0.662). Time from initial appointment to cancer treatment decreased by 9 days (34 days to 25 days, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Referrals to gynecologic oncology decreased significantly during the early months of COVID-19. Though time from referral to evaluation was not impacted by the pandemic, time to treatment initiation decreased despite institutional changes related to COVID-19.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	100928
Journal	Gynecologic Oncology Reports
Volume	39
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2022.100928
State	Published - Feb 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Oncology
Obstetrics and Gynecology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.gore.2022.100928

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Bruce, S. F., Huysman, B., Bharucha, J., Massad, L. S., Mullen, M. M., Hagemann, A. R., Fuh, K. C., McCourt, C. K., Thaker, P. H., Khabele, D., Powell, M. A., Mutch, D. G., & Kuroki, L. M. (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral to and delivery of gynecologic oncology care. Gynecologic Oncology Reports, 39, Article 100928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2022.100928

@article{41acaac7272c4f80abf085a1e7b0bf57,

title = "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral to and delivery of gynecologic oncology care",

abstract = "Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral to and delivery of gynecologic oncology care at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients referred for evaluation by a gynecologic oncologist at Washington University in St. Louis from October 2019 – February 2020 (pre-COVID-19), and April - August 2020 (COVID-19). The primary outcome, time from referral to evaluation by a gynecologic oncologist, was compared between the two time periods. Secondary outcomes included time from initial evaluation to treatment and delays/interruptions in care due to the pandemic. Sub-group analyses were performed on patients with a cancer diagnosis to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on treatment decision making. Results: 884 patients were referred during the study period. Total referrals fell by 32% (526 to 358 patients, p < 0.001) and referrals for cancer fell by 18% (228 to 188 patients, p = 0.049). The pandemic did not impact time from referral to initial gynecologic oncology appointment overall (pre-COVID-19: 19.1 vs. COVID-19: 17.4 days, p = 0.315) or among patients with cancer (14.4 vs. 13.9 days, p = 0.662). Time from initial appointment to cancer treatment decreased by 9 days (34 days to 25 days, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Referrals to gynecologic oncology decreased significantly during the early months of COVID-19. Though time from referral to evaluation was not impacted by the pandemic, time to treatment initiation decreased despite institutional changes related to COVID-19.",

author = "Bruce, {Shaina F.} and Bridget Huysman and Jinai Bharucha and Massad, {L. Stewart} and Mullen, {Mary M.} and Hagemann, {Andrea R.} and Fuh, {Katherine C.} and McCourt, {Carolyn K.} and Thaker, {Premal H.} and Dineo Khabele and Powell, {Matthew A.} and Mutch, {David G.} and Kuroki, {Lindsay M.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors",

year = "2022",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1016/j.gore.2022.100928",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "39",

journal = "Gynecologic Oncology Reports",

issn = "2211-338X",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral to and delivery of gynecologic oncology care

AU - Bruce, Shaina F.

AU - Huysman, Bridget

AU - Bharucha, Jinai

AU - Massad, L. Stewart

AU - Mullen, Mary M.

AU - Hagemann, Andrea R.

AU - Fuh, Katherine C.

AU - McCourt, Carolyn K.

AU - Thaker, Premal H.

AU - Khabele, Dineo

AU - Powell, Matthew A.

AU - Mutch, David G.

AU - Kuroki, Lindsay M.

PY - 2022/2

Y1 - 2022/2

N2 - Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral to and delivery of gynecologic oncology care at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients referred for evaluation by a gynecologic oncologist at Washington University in St. Louis from October 2019 – February 2020 (pre-COVID-19), and April - August 2020 (COVID-19). The primary outcome, time from referral to evaluation by a gynecologic oncologist, was compared between the two time periods. Secondary outcomes included time from initial evaluation to treatment and delays/interruptions in care due to the pandemic. Sub-group analyses were performed on patients with a cancer diagnosis to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on treatment decision making. Results: 884 patients were referred during the study period. Total referrals fell by 32% (526 to 358 patients, p < 0.001) and referrals for cancer fell by 18% (228 to 188 patients, p = 0.049). The pandemic did not impact time from referral to initial gynecologic oncology appointment overall (pre-COVID-19: 19.1 vs. COVID-19: 17.4 days, p = 0.315) or among patients with cancer (14.4 vs. 13.9 days, p = 0.662). Time from initial appointment to cancer treatment decreased by 9 days (34 days to 25 days, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Referrals to gynecologic oncology decreased significantly during the early months of COVID-19. Though time from referral to evaluation was not impacted by the pandemic, time to treatment initiation decreased despite institutional changes related to COVID-19.

AB - Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral to and delivery of gynecologic oncology care at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients referred for evaluation by a gynecologic oncologist at Washington University in St. Louis from October 2019 – February 2020 (pre-COVID-19), and April - August 2020 (COVID-19). The primary outcome, time from referral to evaluation by a gynecologic oncologist, was compared between the two time periods. Secondary outcomes included time from initial evaluation to treatment and delays/interruptions in care due to the pandemic. Sub-group analyses were performed on patients with a cancer diagnosis to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on treatment decision making. Results: 884 patients were referred during the study period. Total referrals fell by 32% (526 to 358 patients, p < 0.001) and referrals for cancer fell by 18% (228 to 188 patients, p = 0.049). The pandemic did not impact time from referral to initial gynecologic oncology appointment overall (pre-COVID-19: 19.1 vs. COVID-19: 17.4 days, p = 0.315) or among patients with cancer (14.4 vs. 13.9 days, p = 0.662). Time from initial appointment to cancer treatment decreased by 9 days (34 days to 25 days, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Referrals to gynecologic oncology decreased significantly during the early months of COVID-19. Though time from referral to evaluation was not impacted by the pandemic, time to treatment initiation decreased despite institutional changes related to COVID-19.

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U2 - 10.1016/j.gore.2022.100928

DO - 10.1016/j.gore.2022.100928

M3 - Article

C2 - 35024405

AN - SCOPUS:85122589706

SN - 2211-338X

VL - 39

JO - Gynecologic Oncology Reports

JF - Gynecologic Oncology Reports

M1 - 100928

ER -

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral to and delivery of gynecologic oncology care

Abstract

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