Jeba Jenifer, Thankachan Ansu Mary, Jacob Annie, Kandasamy Ramu, Susithra D N
Department of Radiotherapy, Palliative Care Unit, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Indian J Palliat Care. 2022 Jan-Mar;28(1):3-6. doi: 10.25259/IJPC_314_20. Epub 2022 Mar 16.
The pandemic and the lockdown has challenged palliative care patients especially those on palliative oncological treatments. This study aims to understand the effect of COVID-19 and initial lockdown on palliative oncological treatments among palliative care patients.
A retrospective chart review of patients who attended the palliative care outpatient clinic, between 21 April and 12 May 2020, was done. Sociodemographic and palliative oncological treatment details were reviewed.
Of the 107 patients included, 53.7% were between 40 and 60 years of age, and 58.3% were women. A large proportion (63%) was unemployed and 40.2% had to rent vehicles for hospital travel. During this period, palliative oncological treatment was interrupted or deferred in 20% and 3.5%, respectively. During this period, homecare services were also affected in about 12.2% of our patients.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown have affected the palliative oncological treatment of palliative care outpatients with cancer. The implications of interrupted and deferred treatment on patient outcomes would be seen in the months and years to follow. Palliative care teams should enhance patient and caregiver support and promote non-abandonment and continuum of care during such unprecedented times.
疫情及封锁措施对姑息治疗患者，尤其是接受姑息性肿瘤治疗的患者构成了挑战。本研究旨在了解2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）及初期封锁措施对姑息治疗患者姑息性肿瘤治疗的影响。
对2020年4月21日至5月12日期间到姑息治疗门诊就诊的患者进行回顾性病历审查。审查了社会人口统计学和姑息性肿瘤治疗细节。
纳入的107例患者中，53.7%年龄在40至60岁之间，58.3%为女性。很大一部分（63%）失业，40.2%不得不租车前往医院就诊。在此期间，姑息性肿瘤治疗分别有20%被中断、3.5%被推迟。在此期间，约12.2%的患者的居家护理服务也受到影响。
COVID-19疫情及封锁措施影响了癌症姑息治疗门诊患者的姑息性肿瘤治疗。治疗中断和推迟对患者预后的影响将在未来数月和数年显现。在这种前所未有的时期，姑息治疗团队应加强对患者及照料者的支持，促进不遗弃和持续护理。
