The Effects of COVID-19 on Cancer Care Provision: A Systematic Review

Cancer Control. 2021 Jan-Dec:28:1073274821997425. doi: 10.1177/1073274821997425.

Abstract

This systematic review aims to gather primary data from cancer institutions that have implemented changes to cancer service provision amid the COVID-19 outbreak to inform future intervention and health care facility response strategies. A comprehensive literature search was done on Global Health Medline and EMBASE using pertinent key words and MeSH terms relating to COVID-19 and Cancer service provision. A total of 72 articles were selected for inclusion in this systematic review. Following the narrative synthesis that was conducted of the literature, 6 core themes that encompassed common cancer service intervention adopted by institutions were identified: (1) Testing and Tracking, (2) Outreach and Communication, (3) Protection, (4) Social Distancing (5) Treatment Management, (6) Service Restructuring. Since cancer patients are a high-risk population amid the COVID-19 pandemic, these areas of targeted intervention can be used to inform necessary actions in institutions facing similar risks, based on previous learning from numerous cancer centers globally.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cancer; care organization; service provision.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Cancer Care Facilities / organization & administration*
  • Communication
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / organization & administration
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Pandemics
  • Physical Distancing
  • SARS-CoV-2