Pandemic profoundly impacts pediatric oncology providers
The COVID-19 pandemic substantially affected the pediatric oncology workforce, leading to physical, psychological and financial strain, according to results of a survey study published in Cancer.
“This survey is unique, as it captures the global impact of the pandemic in the context of a discipline, ie, pediatric hematology/oncology,” Lorena V. Baroni, MD, of the hematology/oncology service at Garrahan Pediatrics Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Eric Bouffet, MD, of the division of hematology/oncology at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, wrote in a related editorial. “Conducting a similar study would be challenging among health care providers in the adult cancer population. The findings suggest that pediatric oncology often becomes a low priority in the face of an acute health care crisis.”
Methodology
In the survey study, Elizabeth Sniderman, MSN, APRN, and colleagues assessed responses to a 60-item survey from 311 clinicians caring for children with cancer. The clinicians represented 213 institutions from 79 countries. The survey addressed the pandemic’s impact on clinical care, resources and providers.
The researchers also selected a diverse subgroup of 16 institutions for 19 multidisciplinary focus groups that discussed teamwork, communications and changes to the delivery of care.
Results
Fifty-one percent of institutions reported decreased clinical staff availability had a major impact. Reported staffing modifications included decreased provider availability (66% of institutions) role/responsibility changes, and transfer outside the specialty.
The survey identified physical impacts of the pandemic, as well, including frequent COVID-19 illness. Eight percent of respondents reported deaths among health care providers at their institutions, and 50% of providers did not have the necessary personal protective equipment.
Health care providers also reported experiencing psychological and financial difficulties during the pandemic. The pandemic appeared to disproportionately affect nurses vs. other health care providers. The impacts reported spanned all hospital resource levels, with staffing changes more prevalent in countries with higher COVID-19 incidence (P <.001) and mortality rate (P = .004).
Focus group participants reported that negative impacts of the pandemic were rectified through increased teamwork, communication, contribution to tasks outside providers’ normal responsibilities, policies designed to optimize safety, and a sense of accomplishment at having contributed to the effort.
Implications
“This survey took place at a relatively early stage of the pandemic, and a follow-up study would certainly provide a different insight,” Baroni and Bouffet wrote. “However, the results presented in this study should not be taken lightly. They reflect a serious risk that can ultimately affect the care of children and compromise the success of their treatment. In this context, one cannot emphasize enough the importance of pediatric cancer organizations in their advocacy role.”
References:
Baroni LV, et al. Cancer. 2021;doi:10.1002/cncr.34089.
Sniderman EP, et al. Cancer. 2021;doi:10.1002/cncr.34090.
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