Simone Saibeni1, Ludovica Scucchi2, Gabriele Dragoni3, Cristina Bezzio1, Agnese Miranda4, Davide Giuseppe Ribaldone5, Angela Bertani6, Fabrizio Bossa7, Mariangela Allocca8,9, Andrea Buda10, Gianmarco Mocci11, Alessandra Soriano12, Silvia Mazzuoli13, Lorenzo Bertani14, Flavia Baccini15, Erika Loddo16,17, Antonino Carlo Privitera18, Alessandro Sartini19, Angelo Viscido20, Laurino Grossi21, Valentina Casini22, Viviana Gerardi23, Marta Ascolani24, Mirko Di Ruscio25, Giovanni Casella26, Edoardo Savarino27, Davide Stradella28, Rossella Pumpo29, Claudio Camillo Cortelezzi30, Marco Daperno31, Valeria Ciardo32, Olga Maria Nardone33, Flavio Caprioli34, Giovanna Vitale35, Maria Cappello36, Michele Comberlato37, Patrizia Alvisi38, Stefano Festa39, Michele Campigotto40, Giorgia Bodini41, Paola Balestrieri42, Anna Viola43, Daniela Pugliese44, Alessandro Armuzzi44, Massimo C Fantini16,17, Gionata Fiorino8,9. 1. Gastroenterology Unit, Rho Hospital, ASST Rhodense, Milan, Italy. 2. Department of Systems Medicine, GI Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. 3. Gastroenterology Unit, Careggi University Hospital Florence, Italy. 4. Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, University of Campania 'L. Vanvitelli', Naples, Italy. 5. Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 6. Department of Gastroenterology, IBD Unit, Policlinico Hospital, Modena, Italy. 7. Division of Gastroenterology, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" Foundation, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. 8. IBD Centre, Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre - IRCCS, Milan, Italy. 9. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy. 10. Department of Gastrointestinal Oncological Surgery, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, S. Maria del Prato Hospital, Feltre, Italy. 11. Gastroenterology Unit, Brotzu Hospital, Cagliari, Italy. 12. Gastroenterology Division, Azienda USL Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy. 13. Gastroenterology and Artificial Nutrition Unit, Monsignor R. Dimiccoli Hospital, ASL BT, Barletta, Italy. 14. Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Department of Medical Specialties Apuane Hospital - Tuscany North-West ASL, Massa, Italy. 15. Digestive Disease Unit, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy. 16. Gastroenterology Unit, University Hospital, AOU Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. 17. Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. 18. IBD Unit, 'Cannizzaro' Hospital, Catania, Italy. 19. Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Forlì-Cesena, AUSL della Romagna, Rimini, Italy. 20. Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. 21. G. D'Annunzio University - Digestive Physiopathology, Ospedale Spirito Santo, Pescara, Italy. 22. A.S.S.T. Bergamo EST, Gastroenterology Unit, Seriate Hospital, Bergamo, Italy. 23. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Poliambulanza foundation, Brescia, Italy. 24. Gastroenterology Unit, Santa Maria di Ca Foncello Hospital, Treviso, Italy. 25. IBD Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy. 26. ATS Brianza, Limbiate, Monza Brianza, Italy. 27. Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. 28. Gastroenterology Unit, A.O.U. Maggiore della Caritá, Novara, Italy. 29. Endoscopy Unit P.O. S.G. Bosco, ASLNA1, Naples, Italy. 30. Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, A.S.S.T. Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy. 31. Gastroenterology Unit, Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy. 32. Gastroenterology Unit, S. Antonio Hospital, San Daniele del Friuli, Italy. 33. Gastroenterology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. 34. Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore di Milano Policlinico Foundation, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 35. Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, 'San Carlo' Hospital, Potenza, Italy. 36. IBD Clinic, Gastroenterology Section, Promise, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. 37. IBD Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Bolzano, Italy. 38. Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy. 39. IBD Unit, S. Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy. 40. Academic Surgical and Health Sciences Department, Trieste University, Trieste, Italy. 41. Gastroenterology chair, Internal Medicine Department, Genoa University, Italy. 42. Unit of Digestive Disease of Campus Bio Medico, University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 43. IBD Unit, Department Clinical and experimental Medicine, Policlinico Messina, Messina, Italy. 44. CEMAD - IBD Unit, Internal and Gastroenterology Unit, Academic Policlinic Foundation 'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Restructuring activities have been necessary during the lockdown phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Few data are available on the post-lockdown phase in terms of health-care procedures in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care, and no data are available specifically from IBD units. We aimed to investigate how IBD management was restructured during the lockdown phase, the impact of the restructuring on standards of care and how Italian IBD units have managed post-lockdown activities. METHODS: A web-based online survey was conducted in two phases (April and June 2020) among the Italian Group for IBD affiliated units within the entire country. We investigated preventive measures, the possibility of continuing scheduled visits/procedures/therapies because of COVID-19 and how units resumed activities in the post-lockdown phase. RESULTS: Forty-two referral centres participated from all over Italy. During the COVID-19 lockdown, 36% of first visits and 7% of follow-up visits were regularly done, while >70% of follow-up scheduled visits and 5% of first visits were done virtually. About 25% of scheduled endoscopies and bowel ultrasound scans were done. More than 80% of biological therapies were done as scheduled. Compared to the pre-lockdown situation, 95% of centres modified management of outpatient activity, 93% of endoscopies, 59% of gastrointestinal ultrasounds and 33% of biological therapies. Resumption of activities after the lockdown phase may take three to six months to normalize. Virtual clinics, implementation of IBD pathways and facilities seem to be the main factors to improve care in the future. CONCLUSION: Italian IBD unit restructuring allowed quality standards of care during the COVID-19 pandemic to be maintained. A return to normal appears to be feasible and achievable relatively quickly. Some approaches, such as virtual clinics and identified IBD pathways, represent a valid starting point to improve IBD care in the post-COVID-19 era.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Restructuring activities have been necessary during the lockdown phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Few data are available on the post-lockdown phase in terms of health-care procedures in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care, and no data are available specifically from IBD units. We aimed to investigate how IBD management was restructured during the lockdown phase, the impact of the restructuring on standards of care and how Italian IBD units have managed post-lockdown activities. METHODS: A web-based online survey was conducted in two phases (April and June 2020) among the Italian Group for IBD affiliated units within the entire country. We investigated preventive measures, the possibility of continuing scheduled visits/procedures/therapies because of COVID-19 and how units resumed activities in the post-lockdown phase. RESULTS: Forty-two referral centres participated from all over Italy. During the COVID-19 lockdown, 36% of first visits and 7% of follow-up visits were regularly done, while >70% of follow-up scheduled visits and 5% of first visits were done virtually. About 25% of scheduled endoscopies and bowel ultrasound scans were done. More than 80% of biological therapies were done as scheduled. Compared to the pre-lockdown situation, 95% of centres modified management of outpatient activity, 93% of endoscopies, 59% of gastrointestinal ultrasounds and 33% of biological therapies. Resumption of activities after the lockdown phase may take three to six months to normalize. Virtual clinics, implementation of IBD pathways and facilities seem to be the main factors to improve care in the future. CONCLUSION: Italian IBD unit restructuring allowed quality standards of care during the COVID-19 pandemic to be maintained. A return to normal appears to be feasible and achievable relatively quickly. Some approaches, such as virtual clinics and identified IBD pathways, represent a valid starting point to improve IBD care in the post-COVID-19 era.
Authors: Eduardo Martin Arranz; Cristina Suarez Ferrer; Laura García Ramírez; Jose Luis Rueda García; María Sánchez-Azofra; Joaquín Poza Cordón; Jesus Noci; Yamile Zabana; Manuel Barreiro-de Acosta; María Dolores Martín-Arranz Journal: Inflamm Bowel Dis Date: 2020-07-17 Impact factor: 5.325
Authors: Chiara Rosso; Alami Aroussi Aaron; Angelo Armandi; Gian Paolo Caviglia; Marta Vernero; Giorgio Maria Saracco; Marco Astegiano; Elisabetta Bugianesi; Davide Giuseppe Ribaldone Journal: Nurs Rep Date: 2021-04-01