TY - JOUR
T1 - The state of neuro-oncology during the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - A worldwide assessment
AU - Mrugala, MacIej M.
AU - Ostrom, Quinn T.
AU - Pressley, Shelley M.
AU - Taylor, Jennie W.
AU - Thomas, Alissa A.
AU - Wefel, Jeffrey S.
AU - Coven, Scott L.
AU - Acquaye, Alvina A.
AU - Haynes, Chas
AU - Agnihotri, Sameer
AU - Lim, Michael
AU - Peters, Katherine B.
AU - Sulman, Erik P.
AU - Salcido, Joanne T.
AU - Butowski, Nicholas A.
AU - Hervey-Jumper, Shawn
AU - Mansouri, Alireza
AU - Oliver, Kathy R.
AU - Porter, Alyx B.
AU - Nassiri, Farshad
AU - Schiff, David
AU - Dunbar, Erin M.
AU - Hegi, Monika E.
AU - Armstrong, Terri S.
AU - Van Den Bent, Martin J.
AU - Chang, Susan M.
AU - Zadeh, Gelareh
AU - Chheda, Milan G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/1/1
Y1 - 2021/1/1
N2 - Background:It remains unknown how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed neuro-oncology clinical practice, training, and research efforts. Methods:We performed an international survey of practitioners, scientists, and trainees from 21 neuro-oncology organizations across 6 continents, April 24-May 17, 2020. We assessed clinical practice and research environments, institutional preparedness and support, and perceived impact on patients. Results:Of 582 respondents, 258 (45%) were US-based and 314 (55%) international. Ninety-four percent of participants reported changes in their clinical practice. Ninety-five percent of respondents converted at least some practice to telemedicine. Ten percent of practitioners felt the need to see patients in person, specifically because of billing concerns and pressure from their institutions. Sixty-seven percent of practitioners suspended enrollment for at least one clinical trial, including 62% suspending phase III trial enrollments. More than 50% believed neuro-oncology patients were at increased risk for COVID-19. Seventy-one percent of clinicians feared for their own personal safety or that of their families, specifically because of their clinical duties; 20% had inadequate personal protective equipment. While 69% reported increased stress, 44% received no psychosocial support from their institutions. Thirty-seven percent had salary reductions and 63% of researchers temporarily closed their laboratories. However, the pandemic created positive changes in perceived patient satisfaction, communication quality, and technology use to deliver care and mediate interactions with other practitioners. Conclusions:The pandemic has changed treatment schedules and limited investigational treatment options. Institutional lack of support created clinician and researcher anxiety. Communication with patients was satisfactory. We make recommendations to guide clinical and scientific infrastructure moving forward and address the personal challenges of providers and researchers.
AB - Background:It remains unknown how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed neuro-oncology clinical practice, training, and research efforts. Methods:We performed an international survey of practitioners, scientists, and trainees from 21 neuro-oncology organizations across 6 continents, April 24-May 17, 2020. We assessed clinical practice and research environments, institutional preparedness and support, and perceived impact on patients. Results:Of 582 respondents, 258 (45%) were US-based and 314 (55%) international. Ninety-four percent of participants reported changes in their clinical practice. Ninety-five percent of respondents converted at least some practice to telemedicine. Ten percent of practitioners felt the need to see patients in person, specifically because of billing concerns and pressure from their institutions. Sixty-seven percent of practitioners suspended enrollment for at least one clinical trial, including 62% suspending phase III trial enrollments. More than 50% believed neuro-oncology patients were at increased risk for COVID-19. Seventy-one percent of clinicians feared for their own personal safety or that of their families, specifically because of their clinical duties; 20% had inadequate personal protective equipment. While 69% reported increased stress, 44% received no psychosocial support from their institutions. Thirty-seven percent had salary reductions and 63% of researchers temporarily closed their laboratories. However, the pandemic created positive changes in perceived patient satisfaction, communication quality, and technology use to deliver care and mediate interactions with other practitioners. Conclusions:The pandemic has changed treatment schedules and limited investigational treatment options. Institutional lack of support created clinician and researcher anxiety. Communication with patients was satisfactory. We make recommendations to guide clinical and scientific infrastructure moving forward and address the personal challenges of providers and researchers.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122102010&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85122102010&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/noajnl/vdab035
DO - 10.1093/noajnl/vdab035
M3 - Article
C2 - 34007966
AN - SCOPUS:85122102010
SN - 2632-2498
VL - 3
JO - Neuro-Oncology Advances
JF - Neuro-Oncology Advances
IS - 1
M1 - vdab035
ER -