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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care including innovations implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused disruptions in the delivery and utilisation of cancer services. The impact of these interruptions is disproportionately borne by low- and middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There are speculations of increased late-stag...

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Autores principales: Rine, Sarah, Lara, Shana T, Bikomeye, Jean C, Beltrán-Ponce, Sara, Kibudde, Solomon, Niyonzima, Nixon, Lawal, Olatunji O, Mulamira, Pius, Beyer, Kirsten MM
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: International Society of Global Health 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10656081/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37976409
http://dx.doi.org/10.7189/jogh.13.06048
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author Rine, Sarah
Lara, Shana T
Bikomeye, Jean C
Beltrán-Ponce, Sara
Kibudde, Solomon
Niyonzima, Nixon
Lawal, Olatunji O
Mulamira, Pius
Beyer, Kirsten MM
author_facet Rine, Sarah
Lara, Shana T
Bikomeye, Jean C
Beltrán-Ponce, Sara
Kibudde, Solomon
Niyonzima, Nixon
Lawal, Olatunji O
Mulamira, Pius
Beyer, Kirsten MM
author_sort Rine, Sarah
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused disruptions in the delivery and utilisation of cancer services. The impact of these interruptions is disproportionately borne by low- and middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There are speculations of increased late-stage presentation and mortality as services are returning to the pre-pandemic state. This review aims to explore the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted cancer services across SSA and to identify innovations implemented across SSA to mitigate the impacts. METHODS: Using database-specific search strategies, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Ovid (MedLine), Web of Science, and African Index Medicus. Eligible studies included original research, reports, perspectives and summaries of national or regional outcomes published in the English language. The primary outcome was changes in the delivery and utilisation of cancer prevention and screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up services. The secondary outcome was to identify implemented innovations to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on service delivery. RESULTS: Out of the 167 articles identified in the literature search, 46 were included in the synthesis. A majority (95.7%) of the included articles described suspension and/or delay of screening, diagnosis, and treatment services, although two studies (4.3%) described the continuation of services despite the lockdown. Care was additionally impacted by transportation limitations, shortages of staff and personal protective equipment, disruption of the medication supply chain and patients’ fears and stigma associated with contracting COVID-19. A major innovation was the use of telemedicine and virtual platforms for patient consultation and follow-up during the pandemic in SSA. Furthermore, drones and mobile applications were used for sample collection, medication delivery and scheduling of treatment. In some instances, medication routes and treatment protocols were changed. CONCLUSIONS: The delivery and utilisation of cancer services decreased substantially during the pandemic. Cancer centres initiated innovative methods of care delivery, including telehealth and drone use, with long-term potential to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on service delivery. Cancer centres in SSA must explore sustainable, facility or country-specific innovations as services return to the pre-pandemic state. REGISTRATION: The review was registered in PROSPERO with registration number CRD42022351455.
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spelling pubmed-106560812023-11-17 The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care including innovations implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review Rine, Sarah Lara, Shana T Bikomeye, Jean C Beltrán-Ponce, Sara Kibudde, Solomon Niyonzima, Nixon Lawal, Olatunji O Mulamira, Pius Beyer, Kirsten MM J Glob Health Articles BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused disruptions in the delivery and utilisation of cancer services. The impact of these interruptions is disproportionately borne by low- and middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There are speculations of increased late-stage presentation and mortality as services are returning to the pre-pandemic state. This review aims to explore the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted cancer services across SSA and to identify innovations implemented across SSA to mitigate the impacts. METHODS: Using database-specific search strategies, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Ovid (MedLine), Web of Science, and African Index Medicus. Eligible studies included original research, reports, perspectives and summaries of national or regional outcomes published in the English language. The primary outcome was changes in the delivery and utilisation of cancer prevention and screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up services. The secondary outcome was to identify implemented innovations to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on service delivery. RESULTS: Out of the 167 articles identified in the literature search, 46 were included in the synthesis. A majority (95.7%) of the included articles described suspension and/or delay of screening, diagnosis, and treatment services, although two studies (4.3%) described the continuation of services despite the lockdown. Care was additionally impacted by transportation limitations, shortages of staff and personal protective equipment, disruption of the medication supply chain and patients’ fears and stigma associated with contracting COVID-19. A major innovation was the use of telemedicine and virtual platforms for patient consultation and follow-up during the pandemic in SSA. Furthermore, drones and mobile applications were used for sample collection, medication delivery and scheduling of treatment. In some instances, medication routes and treatment protocols were changed. CONCLUSIONS: The delivery and utilisation of cancer services decreased substantially during the pandemic. Cancer centres initiated innovative methods of care delivery, including telehealth and drone use, with long-term potential to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on service delivery. Cancer centres in SSA must explore sustainable, facility or country-specific innovations as services return to the pre-pandemic state. REGISTRATION: The review was registered in PROSPERO with registration number CRD42022351455. International Society of Global Health 2023-11-17 /pmc/articles/PMC10656081/ /pubmed/37976409 http://dx.doi.org/10.7189/jogh.13.06048 Text en Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
spellingShingle Articles
Rine, Sarah
Lara, Shana T
Bikomeye, Jean C
Beltrán-Ponce, Sara
Kibudde, Solomon
Niyonzima, Nixon
Lawal, Olatunji O
Mulamira, Pius
Beyer, Kirsten MM
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care including innovations implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
title The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care including innovations implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
title_full The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care including innovations implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
title_fullStr The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care including innovations implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care including innovations implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
title_short The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care including innovations implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
title_sort impact of the covid-19 pandemic on cancer care including innovations implemented in sub-saharan africa: a systematic review
topic Articles
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10656081/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37976409
http://dx.doi.org/10.7189/jogh.13.06048
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