Impact of COVID-19 in gynecologic oncology: a Nationwide Italian Survey of the SIGO and MITO groups
- Author:
Giorgio BOGANI
1
;
Giovanni APOLONE
;
Antonino DITTO
;
Giovanni SCAMBIA
;
Pierluigi Benedetti PANICI
;
Roberto ANGIOLI
;
Sandro PIGNATA
;
Stefano GREGGI
;
Paolo SCOLLO
;
Mezzanzanica DELIA
;
Massimo FRANCHI
;
Fabio MARTINELLI
;
Mauro SIGNORELLI
;
Salvatore LOPEZ
;
Violante Di DONATO
;
Giorgio VALABREGA
;
Gabriella FERRANDINA
;
Innocenza PALAIA
;
Alice BERGAMINI
;
Luca BOCCIOLONE
;
Antonella SAVARESE
;
Fabio GHEZZI
;
Jvan CASARIN
;
Ciro PINELLI
;
Vito TROJANO
;
Vito CHIANTERA
;
Giorgio GIORDA
;
Francesco SOPRACORDEVOLE
;
Mario MALZONI
;
Giovanna SALERNO
;
Enrico SARTORI
;
Antonia TESTA
;
Gianfranco ZANNONI
;
Fulvio ZULLO
;
Enrico VIZZA
;
Giuseppe TROJANO
;
Antonio CHIANTERA
;
Francesco RASPAGLIESI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Gynecologic Oncology 2020;31(6):e92-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused rapid and drastic changes in cancer management. The Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SIGO), and the Multicenter Italian Trials in Ovarian cancer and gynecologic malignancies (MITO) promoted a national survey aiming to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on clinical activity of gynecologist oncologists and to assess the implementation of containment measures against COVID-19 diffusion.
Methods:The survey consisted of a self-administered, anonymous, online questionnaire. Thesurvey was sent via email to all the members of the SIGO, and MITO groups on April 7, 2020, and was closed on April 20, 2020.
Results:Overall, 604 participants completed the questionnaire with a response-rate of 70%. The results of this survey suggest that gynecologic oncology units had set a proactive approach to COVID-19 outbreak. Triage methods were adopted in order to minimize in-hospital diffusion of COVID-19. Only 38% of gynecologic surgeons were concerned about COVID-19 outbreak. Although 73% of the participants stated that COVID-19 has not significantly modified their everyday practice, 21% declared a decrease of the use of laparoscopy in favor of open surgery (19%). However, less than 50% of surgeons adopted specific protection against COVID-19. Additionally, responders suggested to delay cancer treatment (10%–15%), and to perform less radical surgical procedures (20%–25%) during COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusions:National guidelines should be implemented to further promote the safety of patients and health care providers. International cooperation is of paramount importance, as heavily affected nations can serve as an example to find out ways to safely preserve clinical activity during the COVID-19 outbreak.
