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INTRODUCTION: Globally, Brazil has the third highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and the second highest number of deaths related to COVID-19 at the time of writing. Maintaining cancer care has been a challenge for patient safety and for the physical and mental health of oncology nurses. OBJECTIVES: To describe which effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care could already be evaluated and to identify the psychosocial impact on cancer nurses in Brazil. METHOD: Reflective, analytical, qualitative study. RESULTS: Although the Brazilian cancer care policy has reached important achievements in overcoming access barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment over the past decade, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused losses of timely access to health services for patients with cancer, which has compromised screening, early diagnosis and treatment, and patient follow-up. Oncology nurses have actively participated in the management and assistance strategies during the pandemic. This path has generated an increase in oncology nurses' workload, leading to physical and mental stress and anxiety related to the fear of contagion for themselves and their family. CONCLUSION: The pandemic has affected the care of cancer patients, with the potential to suffer greater losses because of reductions in screening, early diagnosis and treatment, and patient follow-up. In addition to the worsening of the cancer setting, the COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed Brazilian oncology nurses, physically and mentally.
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Resumo Introdução A pandemia de Covid-19 trouxe muitos desafios para a assistência oncológica, gerando novos desenhos operacionais nas esferas da gestão e da assistência. Objetivo Descrever experiências de implantação de processos administrativos e assistenciais de instituições prestadoras de atendimento oncológico durante a pandemia da Covid-19. Método Relato de caso, descritivo, qualitativo. As experiências contidas nos relatos compreendem o período de 05 de março a 31 de janeiro de 2021. Os relatos são provenientes de instituições distintas do município de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil. Resultados Os 3 relatos descrevem ações como: triagem dos pacientes para a incorporação de estratégias de telemedicina e tele-enfermagem; preparação de ambientes livres de Covid-19 para a segurança de profissionais e pacientes; reforço às ações educativas na geração de conhecimentos e adoção de comportamentos seguros para equipes de saúde e pacientes, entre outras. Discussão Os relatos descreveram como eixo comum a implementação de ações para viabilizar a segurança dos pacientes, dos profissionais e do meio ambiente, bem como a continuidade da assistência oncológica. A literatura científica e as recomendações dos conselhos, sociedades e organizações foram subsidiárias das medidas instituídas. Conclusão O ineditismo da situação de isolamento social devido ao risco da disseminação da COVID-19 demonstrou-se um campo fecundo para a incorporação de novas estratégias de gestão e assistência em Oncologia. Perdas e danos certamente ocorrerão no processo de assistência oncológica na vigência desta pandemia. Neste contexto, o mapeamento da queda de diagnósticos de câncer bem como das interrupções de tratamento é fundamental para mitigação de suas consequências.
Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges to oncology care, leading to the implementation of new operational models in health management and care. Objective To describe the experiences related to the implementation of health management and care models in cancer treatment centers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Materials and Methods A qualitative descriptive case report was conducted including experiences from March 5 to January 31, 2021. Reports were provided by different cancer treatment centers in São Paulo, Brazil. Results Actions such as identification of patients eligible for telemedicine and telenursing strategies, preparation of COVID-19-free environments for healthcare professionals and patients, and support for educational actions to increase knowledge and adoption of safety behavior for healthcare professionals and patients were observed in the three reports. Discussion A common element described in the reports is the implementation of actions to improve the safety of healthcare professionals, patients and the environment, as well as the continuity of cancer care. Scientific literature and recommendations of advisory boards, associations and organizations were supplementary to the measures applied. Conclusions Social distancing due to the risk of COVID-19 spread proved to a successful field for the introduction of new health management and care in cancer treatment. Although there will certainly be loss and damage to cancer treatment processes during this pandemic, mapping the drop in cancer diagnosis, as well as treatment interruptions, is essential to mitigate any consequences.
Resumen Introducción La pandemia de Covid-19 trajo muchos desafíos para la atención oncológica, generando nuevos diseños operativos en las esferas de gestión y atención. Objetivo Describir las experiencias de implementación de procesos administrativos y de atención de instituciones proveedoras de atención oncológica durante la pandemia de Covid-19. Métodos Reporte de caso, descriptivo, cualitativo. Las experiencias del reporte cubren el período del 5 de marzo al 31 de enero de 2021. Los informes provienen de diferentes instituciones en el municipio de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil. Resultados Los 3 reportes describen acciones tales como: detección de pacientes para las estrategias de telemedicina y tele enfermería; preparación de entornos libres de Covid-19 para la seguridad de profesionales y pacientes; refuerzo de acciones educativas para generación de conocimiento y adopción de comportamientos seguros para profesionales y pacientes, entre otros. Discusión Los reportes describen como eje común la implementación de acciones para la seguridad de los pacientes, los profesionales y el medio ambiente, así como la continuidad de la atención oncológica. La literatura científica, las recomendaciones de consejos, sociedades y organizaciones fueron subsidiarias de las medidas instituidas. Conclusión La novedad del confinamiento social debido al riesgo de propagación de COVID-19 demostró ser un campo fructífero para la incorporación de nuevas estrategias de gestión y asistencia oncológica. Ciertamente, habrá pérdidas y daños en el proceso de atención oncológica durante esta pandemia. En este contexto, el mapeo de la caída del diagnóstico de cáncer, así como de las interrupciones del tratamiento, es esencial para mitigar sus consecuencias.