Nationwide Study to Assess the Psychosocial, Financial, and Professional Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiation Therapy Technologists
PURPOSERadiation therapy technologists (RTTs), being the frontline health care workers, are vulnerable to COVID-19 disease and subsequent detrimental consequences of the pandemic. Hence, the study was undertaken for the comprehensive assessment of adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic on RTTs.MATERIA...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society of Clinical Oncology
2022-05-01
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| Series: | JCO Global Oncology |
| Online Access: | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.21.00300 |
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| author | Rohit Vadgaonkar Debojoyti Dhar Vidya Viswanath Raviteja Miriyala Umesh Mahantshetty |
| author_facet | Rohit Vadgaonkar Debojoyti Dhar Vidya Viswanath Raviteja Miriyala Umesh Mahantshetty |
| author_sort | Rohit Vadgaonkar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PURPOSERadiation therapy technologists (RTTs), being the frontline health care workers, are vulnerable to COVID-19 disease and subsequent detrimental consequences of the pandemic. Hence, the study was undertaken for the comprehensive assessment of adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic on RTTs.MATERIALS AND METHODSThis cross-sectional, survey-based study was carried out among RTTs working in various cancer centers across India. Assessment was carried out by using a questionnaire comprising the demographic profile and a structured instrument to quantify psychological, social, financial, and professional impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Responses were collected between February 1, 2021, and April 31, 2021.RESULTSOf 302 responders, more than two third of the RTTs were concerned for getting COVID-19 disease either outside the hospital (n = 210, 69.5%) or from patients or attendants (n = 220, 72.8%). More than one third of RTTs were very much concerned for increased financial burden of COVID-19 pandemic (n = 94, 34.1%), and one third (n = 92, 30.5%) were very much concerned for newly imposed restrictions. RTTs working in a private setup (P = .000), living in a tier 1 city (P = .028), and lacking the coverage of COVID-19 disease in health insurance (P = .010) faced a significantly higher financial burden. RTTs living in tier 1 city (P = .023) and those who were in profession for > 5 years (P = .013) had significantly higher concern for ensuring proper sanitization of the professional environment. More than half (n = 171, 56.6%) were interested in taking COVID-19 vaccine.CONCLUSIONCOVID-19 pandemic adversely affected psychosocial, financial, and professional well-being of RTTs even after subsidizing the initial wave, and a timely intervention is warranted for their well-being and to sustain oncologic facilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:17:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e95fab91499f4af39efef3db709fe372 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2687-8941 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:17:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JCO Global Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e95fab91499f4af39efef3db709fe3722022-12-22T03:25:41ZengAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyJCO Global Oncology2687-89412022-05-01810.1200/GO.21.00300Nationwide Study to Assess the Psychosocial, Financial, and Professional Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiation Therapy TechnologistsRohit Vadgaonkar0Debojoyti Dhar1Vidya Viswanath2Raviteja Miriyala3Umesh Mahantshetty4Department of Radiation Oncology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam, IndiaKokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, IndiaDepartment of Palliative Care, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam, IndiaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam, IndiaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam, IndiaPURPOSERadiation therapy technologists (RTTs), being the frontline health care workers, are vulnerable to COVID-19 disease and subsequent detrimental consequences of the pandemic. Hence, the study was undertaken for the comprehensive assessment of adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic on RTTs.MATERIALS AND METHODSThis cross-sectional, survey-based study was carried out among RTTs working in various cancer centers across India. Assessment was carried out by using a questionnaire comprising the demographic profile and a structured instrument to quantify psychological, social, financial, and professional impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Responses were collected between February 1, 2021, and April 31, 2021.RESULTSOf 302 responders, more than two third of the RTTs were concerned for getting COVID-19 disease either outside the hospital (n = 210, 69.5%) or from patients or attendants (n = 220, 72.8%). More than one third of RTTs were very much concerned for increased financial burden of COVID-19 pandemic (n = 94, 34.1%), and one third (n = 92, 30.5%) were very much concerned for newly imposed restrictions. RTTs working in a private setup (P = .000), living in a tier 1 city (P = .028), and lacking the coverage of COVID-19 disease in health insurance (P = .010) faced a significantly higher financial burden. RTTs living in tier 1 city (P = .023) and those who were in profession for > 5 years (P = .013) had significantly higher concern for ensuring proper sanitization of the professional environment. More than half (n = 171, 56.6%) were interested in taking COVID-19 vaccine.CONCLUSIONCOVID-19 pandemic adversely affected psychosocial, financial, and professional well-being of RTTs even after subsidizing the initial wave, and a timely intervention is warranted for their well-being and to sustain oncologic facilities.https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.21.00300 |
| spellingShingle | Rohit Vadgaonkar Debojoyti Dhar Vidya Viswanath Raviteja Miriyala Umesh Mahantshetty Nationwide Study to Assess the Psychosocial, Financial, and Professional Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiation Therapy Technologists JCO Global Oncology |
| title | Nationwide Study to Assess the Psychosocial, Financial, and Professional Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiation Therapy Technologists |
| title_full | Nationwide Study to Assess the Psychosocial, Financial, and Professional Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiation Therapy Technologists |
| title_fullStr | Nationwide Study to Assess the Psychosocial, Financial, and Professional Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiation Therapy Technologists |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nationwide Study to Assess the Psychosocial, Financial, and Professional Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiation Therapy Technologists |
| title_short | Nationwide Study to Assess the Psychosocial, Financial, and Professional Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiation Therapy Technologists |
| title_sort | nationwide study to assess the psychosocial financial and professional impact of covid 19 pandemic on radiation therapy technologists |
| url | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.21.00300 |
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