Cancer Screening in the Coronavirus Pandemic Era: Adjusting to a New Situation
PURPOSEThe coronavirus-induced pandemic has put great pressure on health systems worldwide. Nonemergency health services, such as cancer screening, have been scaled down or withheld as a result of travel restrictions and resources being redirected to manage the pandemic. The present article discusse...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society of Clinical Oncology
2021-12-01
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| Series: | JCO Global Oncology |
| Online Access: | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.21.00033 |
| _version_ | 1828914696570273792 |
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| author | Partha Basu Samar Alhomoud Katayoun Taghavi Andre L. Carvalho Eric Lucas Iacopo Baussano |
| author_facet | Partha Basu Samar Alhomoud Katayoun Taghavi Andre L. Carvalho Eric Lucas Iacopo Baussano |
| author_sort | Partha Basu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PURPOSEThe coronavirus-induced pandemic has put great pressure on health systems worldwide. Nonemergency health services, such as cancer screening, have been scaled down or withheld as a result of travel restrictions and resources being redirected to manage the pandemic. The present article discusses the challenges to cancer screening implementation in the pandemic environment, suggesting ways to optimize services for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening.METHODSThe manuscript was drafted by a team of public health specialists with expertise in implementation and monitoring of cancer screening. A scoping review of literature revealed the lack of comprehensive guidance on continuation of cancer screening in the midst of waxing and waning of infection. The recommendations in the present article were based on the advisories issued by different health agencies and professional bodies and the authors' understanding of the best practices to maintain quality-assured cancer screening.RESULTSA well-coordinated approach is required to ensure that essential health services such as cancer management are maintained and elective services are not threatened, especially because of resource constraints. In the context of cancer screening, a few changes in invitation strategies, screening and management protocols and program governance need to be considered to fit into the new normal situation. Restoring public trust in providing efficient and safe services should be one of the key mandates for screening program reorganization. This may be a good opportunity to introduce innovations (eg, telehealth) and consider de-implementing non–evidence-based practices. It is necessary to consider increased spending on primary health care and incorporating screening services in basic health package.CONCLUSIONThe article provides guidance on reorganization of screening policies, governance, implementation, and program monitoring. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:59:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3b3149f02b354dd4843aaa3ce924cfa8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2687-8941 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:59:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JCO Global Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3b3149f02b354dd4843aaa3ce924cfa82022-12-21T23:33:13ZengAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyJCO Global Oncology2687-89412021-12-01741642410.1200/GO.21.00033Cancer Screening in the Coronavirus Pandemic Era: Adjusting to a New SituationPartha Basu0Samar Alhomoud1Katayoun Taghavi2Andre L. Carvalho3Eric Lucas4Iacopo Baussano5International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, FranceSection Colorectal Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaInstitute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandInternational Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, FranceInternational Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, FranceInternational Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, FrancePURPOSEThe coronavirus-induced pandemic has put great pressure on health systems worldwide. Nonemergency health services, such as cancer screening, have been scaled down or withheld as a result of travel restrictions and resources being redirected to manage the pandemic. The present article discusses the challenges to cancer screening implementation in the pandemic environment, suggesting ways to optimize services for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening.METHODSThe manuscript was drafted by a team of public health specialists with expertise in implementation and monitoring of cancer screening. A scoping review of literature revealed the lack of comprehensive guidance on continuation of cancer screening in the midst of waxing and waning of infection. The recommendations in the present article were based on the advisories issued by different health agencies and professional bodies and the authors' understanding of the best practices to maintain quality-assured cancer screening.RESULTSA well-coordinated approach is required to ensure that essential health services such as cancer management are maintained and elective services are not threatened, especially because of resource constraints. In the context of cancer screening, a few changes in invitation strategies, screening and management protocols and program governance need to be considered to fit into the new normal situation. Restoring public trust in providing efficient and safe services should be one of the key mandates for screening program reorganization. This may be a good opportunity to introduce innovations (eg, telehealth) and consider de-implementing non–evidence-based practices. It is necessary to consider increased spending on primary health care and incorporating screening services in basic health package.CONCLUSIONThe article provides guidance on reorganization of screening policies, governance, implementation, and program monitoring.https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.21.00033 |
| spellingShingle | Partha Basu Samar Alhomoud Katayoun Taghavi Andre L. Carvalho Eric Lucas Iacopo Baussano Cancer Screening in the Coronavirus Pandemic Era: Adjusting to a New Situation JCO Global Oncology |
| title | Cancer Screening in the Coronavirus Pandemic Era: Adjusting to a New Situation |
| title_full | Cancer Screening in the Coronavirus Pandemic Era: Adjusting to a New Situation |
| title_fullStr | Cancer Screening in the Coronavirus Pandemic Era: Adjusting to a New Situation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cancer Screening in the Coronavirus Pandemic Era: Adjusting to a New Situation |
| title_short | Cancer Screening in the Coronavirus Pandemic Era: Adjusting to a New Situation |
| title_sort | cancer screening in the coronavirus pandemic era adjusting to a new situation |
| url | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.21.00033 |
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