CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada.
Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Registry, CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada.
Curr Oncol. 2023 Jun 21;30(7):5973-5983. doi: 10.3390/curroncol30070446.
CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) introduced virtual visits at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to replace many in-person visits. This study examines the impact of virtual visits for cancer care on travel distance, travel time, and carbon dioxide (CO) emissions. We included all visits to CCMB for invasive and in situ cancers from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2022. Data were extracted from CCMB's electronic health record. The percentage of visits done virtually by month was reported by age, gender, cancer diagnosis, and regional health authority of residence. Postal codes for patients' residences and clinic locations were converted into latitude and longitude values. Travel distance, travel time, and CO emissions associated with travel were estimated. The percentage of virtual visits was highest during the months when COVID-19 restrictions were present in Manitoba and represent more than 50% of such monthly visits. Virtual visits increased with age, were highest among men with urogenital cancer, and were lowest among northern Manitoba residents. The median travel time per visit ranged from 30 min in Winnipeg to 15 h in the Northern Region. The estimated travel distance saved varied from 420,000 to 750,000 km per month. Estimated travel time saved varied from 5500 to 9600 h per month. Estimated CO emissions prevented varied from 87 to 155 metric tons per month. Virtual care is an important tool for better supporting those living with cancer by substantially decreasing travel distance and time. Virtual care also contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
曼尼托巴癌症护理中心（CCMB）在 COVID-19 大流行初期引入了虚拟就诊，以替代许多面对面就诊。本研究考察了虚拟就诊对癌症护理旅行距离、旅行时间和二氧化碳（CO）排放的影响。我们纳入了 2020 年 4 月 1 日至 2022 年 12 月 31 日期间 CCMB 对侵袭性和原位癌症的所有就诊。数据从 CCMB 的电子健康记录中提取。每月通过虚拟方式就诊的百分比按年龄、性别、癌症诊断和居住的区域卫生当局报告。患者住所和诊所位置的邮政编码转换为经纬度值。估计了与旅行相关的旅行距离、旅行时间和 CO 排放。在曼尼托巴省存在 COVID-19 限制的月份，虚拟就诊的比例最高，占此类每月就诊的比例超过 50%。虚拟就诊随着年龄的增长而增加，在男性泌尿生殖系统癌症患者中最高，在北部曼尼托巴省居民中最低。每次就诊的平均旅行时间从温尼伯的 30 分钟到北部地区的 15 小时不等。每月节省的估计旅行距离从 42 万到 75 万公里不等。每月节省的估计旅行时间从 5500 到 9600 小时不等。每月防止的 CO 排放量从 87 到 155 公吨不等。虚拟护理是一种重要的工具，可以通过大大减少旅行距离和时间，更好地为癌症患者提供支持。虚拟护理还有助于减少温室气体排放。
