Maintaining Essential Oncological Care and Treatment Services During Covid 19 Pandemic - Challenges and Adaptive Responses Among Care Providers in Nigeria- Online Multicenter Study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has added a new dimension to the various challenges impacting Oncological care in low and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess the challenges and responses of caregivers from developing countries in providing essential oncology services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study design using a web-based, structured questionnaire administered to professional caregivers on challenges and adaptive responses to treatment cancer clients during the lockdown using the social media platform. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences 20 (SPSS 20) and a P≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Although most respondents (82.5%) had their state of practice on lockdown for over four weeks, 7.5% of them maintained full Oncology service. Service disruptions were mainly due to the inability of patients to secure transportation services for their appointments (90%) and the fear of contracting Covid 19 by healthcare providers (70%). The immediate consequence was the feeling of abandonment (60%) and the progression of disease (67.5%). Also, despite 97.5% and 90% of respondents' institutions having an Infection control committee and plan, just 12.75%  and 25% of respondents had access to Face masks and Hamzat suit respectively. Mainly, academic activities went virtual, with 40% and 47.5% of respondents having their Tumor board meetings and Journal presentations through this means. This study has shown that adopting technology in low and middle-income countries is crucial to maintaining essential Oncology services during the coronavirus pandemic.