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Progress in Medical Sciences ISSN: 2577 - 2996
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Progress in Medical Sciences. 2021; 5(1):(50-109)


Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Oncology Consultations and Practical Management Recommendations

Oumayma Bounid*, Mariem Elanigri, Youness El-Khadir, Mouna Darfaoui, Issam Lalya, Abdelhamid El Omrani, Mouna Khouchani

Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the organization and access to cancer care, requiring the implementation of unusual management measures. Our study aims to assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic on cancer outpatients within the oncology and haematology university hospital in Marrakech, in order to establish the best cancer care management strategies. Materials and Methods: Cancer patients, who consulted during the month of April Since the start of national lockdown in Morocco following the COVID 19 pandemic, were invited to respond a questionnaire aimed at assessing the impact of this pandemic on their consultations. The characteristics of the consultants, their infectious status, the ease of access to the hospital, the type of consultation, with or without symptoms, the difficulties encountered, as well as the progress after deconfinement are the main items included in the questionnaire. Results: 73 consultations were carried out in the oncological emergency room during the determined period with 76.71% of the responses, against 247 in April 2019. 57.14% consulted following the presence of symptoms to which the access was easy for 59.37% of 'between them and 46.87% could not go to the emergency room because of lockdown. 42.85% had a follow-up appointment, while 20.83% of these appointments were changed, and 29.16% of these patients have already missed it due to lack of transport and means. An increase in the number of consultants, advanced stages and positive COVID cases was marked after deconfinement. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, most consultations at the Marrakech oncology hospital were affected by the state of sanitary lockdown, hence the need for a mutual effort to deal with the fallout from this crisis.