Impact of COVID-19 on cancer care delivery Africa: A cross-sectional survey of oncology providers in Africa

Yehoda M. Martei; Tara J. Rick; Temidayo Fadelu; Mohammed S. Ezzi; Nazik Hammad; Nasreen S. Quadri; Belmira Rodrigues; Hannah Simonds; Surbhi Grover; Luca Incrocci; Verna Vanderpuye

doi:10.1200/GO.20.00569

Impact of COVID-19 on cancer care delivery Africa: A cross-sectional survey of oncology providers in Africa

Yehoda M. Martei^*, Tara J. Rick, Temidayo Fadelu, Mohammed S. Ezzi, Nazik Hammad, Nasreen S. Quadri, Belmira Rodrigues, Hannah Simonds, Surbhi Grover, Luca Incrocci, Verna Vanderpuye

^*Corresponding author for this work

Radiotherapy

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

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Abstract

PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer care globally. There are limited data of its impact in Africa. This study aims to characterize COVID-19 response strategies and impact of COVID-19 on cancer care and explore misconceptions in Africa. METHODS We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey of oncology providers in Africa between June and August 2020. Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis by income groups were performed. RESULTS One hundred twenty-two participants initiated the survey, of which 79 respondents from 18 African countries contributed data. Ninety-four percent (66 of 70) reported country mitigation and suppression strategies, similar across income groups. Unique strategies included courier service and drones for delivery of cancer medications (9 of 70 and 6 of 70, respectively). Most cancer centers remained open, but . 75% providers reported a decrease in patient volume. Not previously reported is the fear of infectivity leading to staff shortages and decrease in patient volumes. Approximately one third reported modifications of all cancer treatment modalities, resulting in treatment delays. A majority of participants reported ≤ 25 confirmed cases (44 of 68, 64%) and ≤ 5 deaths because of COVID-19 (26 of 45, 58%) among patients with cancer. Common misconceptions were that Africans were less susceptible to the virus (53 of 70, 75.7%) and decreased transmission of the virus in the African heat (44 of 70, 62.9%). CONCLUSION Few COVID-19 cases and deaths were reported among patients with cancer. However, disruptions and delays in cancer care because of the pandemic were noted. The pandemic has inspired tailored innovative solutions in clinical care delivery for patients with cancer, which may serve as a blueprint for expanding care and preparing for future pandemics. Ongoing public education should address COVID-19 misconceptions. The results may not be generalizable to the entire African continent because of the small sample size.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	368-377
Number of pages	10
Journal	JCO Global Oncology
Volume	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1200/GO.20.00569
Publication status	Published - 10 Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Yehoda M. Martei Research Funding: Celgene. Fogarty International Center and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number K01 TW 011481 (YMM)

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by American Society of Clinical Oncology

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Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Care Delivery in Africa, A Cross-Sectional Survey of Oncology Providers in AfricaFinal published version, 714 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Impact of COVID-19 on cancer care delivery Africa: A cross-sectional survey of oncology providers in Africa",

abstract = "PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer care globally. There are limited data of its impact in Africa. This study aims to characterize COVID-19 response strategies and impact of COVID-19 on cancer care and explore misconceptions in Africa. METHODS We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey of oncology providers in Africa between June and August 2020. Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis by income groups were performed. RESULTS One hundred twenty-two participants initiated the survey, of which 79 respondents from 18 African countries contributed data. Ninety-four percent (66 of 70) reported country mitigation and suppression strategies, similar across income groups. Unique strategies included courier service and drones for delivery of cancer medications (9 of 70 and 6 of 70, respectively). Most cancer centers remained open, but . 75% providers reported a decrease in patient volume. Not previously reported is the fear of infectivity leading to staff shortages and decrease in patient volumes. Approximately one third reported modifications of all cancer treatment modalities, resulting in treatment delays. A majority of participants reported ≤ 25 confirmed cases (44 of 68, 64%) and ≤ 5 deaths because of COVID-19 (26 of 45, 58%) among patients with cancer. Common misconceptions were that Africans were less susceptible to the virus (53 of 70, 75.7%) and decreased transmission of the virus in the African heat (44 of 70, 62.9%). CONCLUSION Few COVID-19 cases and deaths were reported among patients with cancer. However, disruptions and delays in cancer care because of the pandemic were noted. The pandemic has inspired tailored innovative solutions in clinical care delivery for patients with cancer, which may serve as a blueprint for expanding care and preparing for future pandemics. Ongoing public education should address COVID-19 misconceptions. The results may not be generalizable to the entire African continent because of the small sample size.",

author = "Martei, {Yehoda M.} and Rick, {Tara J.} and Temidayo Fadelu and Ezzi, {Mohammed S.} and Nazik Hammad and Quadri, {Nasreen S.} and Belmira Rodrigues and Hannah Simonds and Surbhi Grover and Luca Incrocci and Verna Vanderpuye",

note = "Funding Information: Yehoda M. Martei Research Funding: Celgene. Fogarty International Center and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number K01 TW 011481 (YMM) Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by American Society of Clinical Oncology",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1200/GO.20.00569",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

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journal = "JCO Global Oncology",

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T1 - Impact of COVID-19 on cancer care delivery Africa

T2 - A cross-sectional survey of oncology providers in Africa

AU - Martei, Yehoda M.

AU - Rick, Tara J.

AU - Fadelu, Temidayo

AU - Ezzi, Mohammed S.

AU - Hammad, Nazik

AU - Quadri, Nasreen S.

AU - Rodrigues, Belmira

AU - Simonds, Hannah

AU - Grover, Surbhi

AU - Incrocci, Luca

AU - Vanderpuye, Verna

N1 - Funding Information: Yehoda M. Martei Research Funding: Celgene. Fogarty International Center and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number K01 TW 011481 (YMM) Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by American Society of Clinical Oncology

PY - 2021/3/10

Y1 - 2021/3/10

N2 - PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer care globally. There are limited data of its impact in Africa. This study aims to characterize COVID-19 response strategies and impact of COVID-19 on cancer care and explore misconceptions in Africa. METHODS We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey of oncology providers in Africa between June and August 2020. Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis by income groups were performed. RESULTS One hundred twenty-two participants initiated the survey, of which 79 respondents from 18 African countries contributed data. Ninety-four percent (66 of 70) reported country mitigation and suppression strategies, similar across income groups. Unique strategies included courier service and drones for delivery of cancer medications (9 of 70 and 6 of 70, respectively). Most cancer centers remained open, but . 75% providers reported a decrease in patient volume. Not previously reported is the fear of infectivity leading to staff shortages and decrease in patient volumes. Approximately one third reported modifications of all cancer treatment modalities, resulting in treatment delays. A majority of participants reported ≤ 25 confirmed cases (44 of 68, 64%) and ≤ 5 deaths because of COVID-19 (26 of 45, 58%) among patients with cancer. Common misconceptions were that Africans were less susceptible to the virus (53 of 70, 75.7%) and decreased transmission of the virus in the African heat (44 of 70, 62.9%). CONCLUSION Few COVID-19 cases and deaths were reported among patients with cancer. However, disruptions and delays in cancer care because of the pandemic were noted. The pandemic has inspired tailored innovative solutions in clinical care delivery for patients with cancer, which may serve as a blueprint for expanding care and preparing for future pandemics. Ongoing public education should address COVID-19 misconceptions. The results may not be generalizable to the entire African continent because of the small sample size.

AB - PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer care globally. There are limited data of its impact in Africa. This study aims to characterize COVID-19 response strategies and impact of COVID-19 on cancer care and explore misconceptions in Africa. METHODS We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey of oncology providers in Africa between June and August 2020. Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis by income groups were performed. RESULTS One hundred twenty-two participants initiated the survey, of which 79 respondents from 18 African countries contributed data. Ninety-four percent (66 of 70) reported country mitigation and suppression strategies, similar across income groups. Unique strategies included courier service and drones for delivery of cancer medications (9 of 70 and 6 of 70, respectively). Most cancer centers remained open, but . 75% providers reported a decrease in patient volume. Not previously reported is the fear of infectivity leading to staff shortages and decrease in patient volumes. Approximately one third reported modifications of all cancer treatment modalities, resulting in treatment delays. A majority of participants reported ≤ 25 confirmed cases (44 of 68, 64%) and ≤ 5 deaths because of COVID-19 (26 of 45, 58%) among patients with cancer. Common misconceptions were that Africans were less susceptible to the virus (53 of 70, 75.7%) and decreased transmission of the virus in the African heat (44 of 70, 62.9%). CONCLUSION Few COVID-19 cases and deaths were reported among patients with cancer. However, disruptions and delays in cancer care because of the pandemic were noted. The pandemic has inspired tailored innovative solutions in clinical care delivery for patients with cancer, which may serve as a blueprint for expanding care and preparing for future pandemics. Ongoing public education should address COVID-19 misconceptions. The results may not be generalizable to the entire African continent because of the small sample size.

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Impact of COVID-19 on cancer care delivery Africa: A cross-sectional survey of oncology providers in Africa

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