Prioritization of head and neck cancer patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic placed considerable strain on the healthcare system, leading to the re-allocation of resources and implementation of new practice guidelines. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of COVID-19 guideline modifications on head and neck cancer (HNC...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-023-00625-w |
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| author | Samuel S. Psycharis Samer Salameh Sena Turkdogan Saad Razzaq Kevin Zhao Marco A. Mascarella Keith Richardson Alex M. Mlynarek Michael P. Hier Nader Sadeghi |
| author_facet | Samuel S. Psycharis Samer Salameh Sena Turkdogan Saad Razzaq Kevin Zhao Marco A. Mascarella Keith Richardson Alex M. Mlynarek Michael P. Hier Nader Sadeghi |
| author_sort | Samuel S. Psycharis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic placed considerable strain on the healthcare system, leading to the re-allocation of resources and implementation of new practice guidelines. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of COVID-19 guideline modifications on head and neck cancer (HNC) care at two tertiary care centers in Canada. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted. HNC patients seen at two tertiary care centers before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-pandemic: July 1st, 2019, to February 29th, 2020; pandemic: March 1st, 2020, to October 31st, 2020) were included. The pre-pandemic and pandemic cohorts were compared according to patient and tumor characteristics, duration of HNC workup, and treatment type and duration. Mean differences in cancer care wait times, including time to diagnosis, tumor board, and treatment as well as total treatment package time and postoperative hospital stay were compared between cohorts. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare characteristics and outcomes between cohorts. Results Pre-pandemic (n = 132) and pandemic (n = 133) patients did not differ significantly in sex, age, habits, or tumor characteristics. The percentage of patients who received surgery only, chemo/radiotherapy (CXRT) only, and surgery plus adjuvant CXRT did not differ significantly between cohorts. Pandemic patients experienced a significant time reduction compared to pre-pandemic patients with regards to the date first seen by a HNC service until start of treatment ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 48.7 and 76.6 days respectively; p = .0001), the date first seen by a HNC service until first presentation at tumor board ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 25.1 and 38 days respectively; p = .001), mean total package time for patients who received surgery only ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 3.7 and 9.0 days respectively; p = .017), and mean total package time for patients who received surgery plus adjuvant CXRT ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 80.2 and 112.7 days respectively; p = .035). Conclusion The time to treatment was significantly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to pre-pandemic. This transparent model of patient-centered operative-room prioritization can serve as a model for improving resource allocation and efficiency of HNC care during emergency and non-emergency scenarios. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e25b3610e044bb8a6f9641693bc55da |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1916-0216 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e25b3610e044bb8a6f9641693bc55da2025-08-20T02:03:46ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162023-02-0152111010.1186/s40463-023-00625-wPrioritization of head and neck cancer patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort studySamuel S. Psycharis0Samer Salameh1Sena Turkdogan2Saad Razzaq3Kevin Zhao4Marco A. Mascarella5Keith Richardson6Alex M. Mlynarek7Michael P. Hier8Nader Sadeghi9Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University Health CentreFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University Health CentreDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University Health CentreDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General HospitalDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General HospitalDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University Health CentreAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic placed considerable strain on the healthcare system, leading to the re-allocation of resources and implementation of new practice guidelines. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of COVID-19 guideline modifications on head and neck cancer (HNC) care at two tertiary care centers in Canada. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted. HNC patients seen at two tertiary care centers before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-pandemic: July 1st, 2019, to February 29th, 2020; pandemic: March 1st, 2020, to October 31st, 2020) were included. The pre-pandemic and pandemic cohorts were compared according to patient and tumor characteristics, duration of HNC workup, and treatment type and duration. Mean differences in cancer care wait times, including time to diagnosis, tumor board, and treatment as well as total treatment package time and postoperative hospital stay were compared between cohorts. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare characteristics and outcomes between cohorts. Results Pre-pandemic (n = 132) and pandemic (n = 133) patients did not differ significantly in sex, age, habits, or tumor characteristics. The percentage of patients who received surgery only, chemo/radiotherapy (CXRT) only, and surgery plus adjuvant CXRT did not differ significantly between cohorts. Pandemic patients experienced a significant time reduction compared to pre-pandemic patients with regards to the date first seen by a HNC service until start of treatment ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 48.7 and 76.6 days respectively; p = .0001), the date first seen by a HNC service until first presentation at tumor board ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 25.1 and 38 days respectively; p = .001), mean total package time for patients who received surgery only ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 3.7 and 9.0 days respectively; p = .017), and mean total package time for patients who received surgery plus adjuvant CXRT ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 80.2 and 112.7 days respectively; p = .035). Conclusion The time to treatment was significantly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to pre-pandemic. This transparent model of patient-centered operative-room prioritization can serve as a model for improving resource allocation and efficiency of HNC care during emergency and non-emergency scenarios.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-023-00625-wCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2CoronavirusHead and neck cancerOtolaryngology |
| spellingShingle | Samuel S. Psycharis Samer Salameh Sena Turkdogan Saad Razzaq Kevin Zhao Marco A. Mascarella Keith Richardson Alex M. Mlynarek Michael P. Hier Nader Sadeghi Prioritization of head and neck cancer patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Head and neck cancer Otolaryngology |
| title | Prioritization of head and neck cancer patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study |
| title_full | Prioritization of head and neck cancer patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Prioritization of head and neck cancer patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prioritization of head and neck cancer patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study |
| title_short | Prioritization of head and neck cancer patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study |
| title_sort | prioritization of head and neck cancer patient care during the covid 19 pandemic a retrospective cohort study |
| topic | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Head and neck cancer Otolaryngology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-023-00625-w |
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