Maeve Kearney1, Mary Coffey1, Maddalena Rossi2, Yat Tsang3. 1. Applied Radiation Therapy Trinity, Discipline of Radiation Therapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. 2. Department of Radiation Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 3. Radiotherapy Department, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, Middlesex, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology Radiation Therapist Committee (ESTRO RTTC) published a guidance document and infographic providing recommendations to minimise risk of COVID-19 transmission in radiotherapy (RT) departments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes embedded in RT practice in the COVID-19 era and to recommend proactive measures to protect RT practice in future pandemics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was initiated by the ESTRO Radiation Oncology Safety and Quality Committee (ROSQC). A survey consisting of multiple choice, open ended and Likert scale questions was created to analyse the extent of changes embedded in RT practice in response to the COVID-19 pandemic under the four domains: patient care, RTT workflow, remote working and RT practice. This online survey was distributed globally in May 2020. RESULTS: 229 respondents across 27 countries completed the survey. 60% of respondents reported continuing/commencing RT in COVID-19 patients. Routine testing of patients and RTTs was not common. Split teams' procedures, hot linacs and separate entrances were implemented by 50% of respondents. Remote working was implemented for RT team members where face to face patient contact was not essential. Lack of staff, connectivity issues and lack of confirmed positive cases in the department were the main reasons cited for not implementing recommended measures. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that RT departments have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented certain changes in RT practice. RT departments should act now to implement recommended proactive measures to protect patients and RTTs - frontline healthcare workers.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology Radiation Therapist Committee (ESTRO RTTC) published a guidance document and infographic providing recommendations to minimise risk of COVID-19 transmission in radiotherapy (RT) departments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes embedded in RT practice in the COVID-19 era and to recommend proactive measures to protect RT practice in future pandemics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was initiated by the ESTRO Radiation Oncology Safety and Quality Committee (ROSQC). A survey consisting of multiple choice, open ended and Likert scale questions was created to analyse the extent of changes embedded in RT practice in response to the COVID-19 pandemic under the four domains: patient care, RTT workflow, remote working and RT practice. This online survey was distributed globally in May 2020. RESULTS: 229 respondents across 27 countries completed the survey. 60% of respondents reported continuing/commencing RT in COVID-19 patients. Routine testing of patients and RTTs was not common. Split teams' procedures, hot linacs and separate entrances were implemented by 50% of respondents. Remote working was implemented for RT team members where face to face patient contact was not essential. Lack of staff, connectivity issues and lack of confirmed positive cases in the department were the main reasons cited for not implementing recommended measures. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that RT departments have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented certain changes in RT practice. RT departments should act now to implement recommended proactive measures to protect patients and RTTs - frontline healthcare workers.
Authors: Matthias Guckenberger; Claus Belka; Andrea Bezjak; Jeffrey Bradley; Megan E Daly; Dirk DeRuysscher; Rafal Dziadziuszko; Corinne Faivre-Finn; Michael Flentje; Elizabeth Gore; Kristin A Higgins; Puneeth Iyengar; Brian D Kavanagh; Sameera Kumar; Cecile Le Pechoux; Yolande Lievens; Karin Lindberg; Fiona McDonald; Sara Ramella; Ramesh Rengan; Umberto Ricardi; Andreas Rimner; George B Rodrigues; Steven E Schild; Suresh Senan; Charles B Simone; Ben J Slotman; Martin Stuschke; Greg Videtic; Joachim Widder; Sue S Yom; David Palma Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2020-07-15 Impact factor: 8.013