The impact of COVID-19 on systemic anticancer treatment delivery in Scotland

TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of COVID-19 on systemic anticancer treatment delivery in Scotland

AU - Baxter, Mark. A.

AU - Murphy, John

AU - Cameron, David

AU - Jordan, Judith

AU - Crearie, Christine

AU - Lilley, Christina

AU - Sadoyze, Azmat

AU - Maclean, Mary

AU - Hall, Peter

AU - Phillips, Angela

AU - Greger, Alex

AU - Madeleine, Jude

AU - Petty, Russell D.

N1 - Funding: CSO (CAF/20/01)

PY - 2021/4/12

Y1 - 2021/4/12

N2 - Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on systemic anticancer therapy delivery (SACT) is crucial to appreciate the short- and long-term consequences for cancer patients and plan future care. Here, we report real-time national SACT delivery data from NHS Scotland. We demonstrate an initial rapid reduction in patient attendance of 28.7% with subsequent rapid recovery following service redesign. The smallest decrease was seen in breast cancer (19.7%), which also had the most rapid recovery and the largest decrease seen in colorectal cancer (43.4%). Regional variation in the magnitude of impact on SACT delivery was observed, but nadirs occurred at the same time and the rate of recovery was similar across all regions. This recovery reflected a coordinated national approach and associated patient and clinician support structures, which facilitated the creation of COVID-19-protected areas for SACT delivery in Scottish cancer centres enabling rapid sharing of successful and innovative strategies. The data show that these actions have limited the disadvantage to cancer patients.

AB - Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on systemic anticancer therapy delivery (SACT) is crucial to appreciate the short- and long-term consequences for cancer patients and plan future care. Here, we report real-time national SACT delivery data from NHS Scotland. We demonstrate an initial rapid reduction in patient attendance of 28.7% with subsequent rapid recovery following service redesign. The smallest decrease was seen in breast cancer (19.7%), which also had the most rapid recovery and the largest decrease seen in colorectal cancer (43.4%). Regional variation in the magnitude of impact on SACT delivery was observed, but nadirs occurred at the same time and the rate of recovery was similar across all regions. This recovery reflected a coordinated national approach and associated patient and clinician support structures, which facilitated the creation of COVID-19-protected areas for SACT delivery in Scottish cancer centres enabling rapid sharing of successful and innovative strategies. The data show that these actions have limited the disadvantage to cancer patients.

KW - Cancer

KW - 2019-nCoV

KW - Systemic anti-cancer therapy

KW - Service delivery

UR - https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-65629/v1

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85100215670

U2 - 10.1038/s41416-021-01262-8

DO - 10.1038/s41416-021-01262-8

M3 - Article

C2 - 33526866

SN - 0007-0920

VL - 124

SP - 1353

EP - 1356

JO - British Journal of Cancer

JF - British Journal of Cancer

ER -