Effect of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on colorectal cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Our aim was to determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included individuals diagnosed with CRC between March 13, 2019 and June 20, 2021 across 21 Spanish hospitals. Two time periods were compared: prepandemic (from March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2020) and pandemic (from March 14, 2020 to June 20, 2021, lockdown period and 1 year after lockdown). RESULTS: We observed a 46.9% decrease in the number of CRC diagnoses (95% confidence interval (CI): 45.1%-48.7%) during the lockdown and 29.7% decrease (95% CI: 28.1%-31.4%) in the year after the lockdown. The proportion of patients diagnosed at stage I significantly decreased during the pandemic (21.7% vs. 19.0%; p = 0.025). Centers that applied universal preprocedure SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing experienced a higher reduction in the number of colonoscopies performed during the pandemic post-lockdown (34.0% reduction; 95% CI: 33.6%-34.4% vs. 13.7; 95% CI: 13.4%-13.9%) and in the number of CRCs diagnosed (34.1% reduction; 95% CI: 31.4%-36.8% vs. 26.7%; 95% CI: 24.6%-28.8%). Curative treatment was received by 87.5% of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer prepandemic and 80.7% of patients during the pandemic post-lockdown period (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in the number of diagnosed CRC cases and in the proportion of stage I CRC. The reduction in the number of colonoscopies and CRC diagnoses was higher in centers that applied universal SARS-CoV-2 PCR screening before colonoscopy. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected curative treatment of rectal cancers.

Implementación de Enfermería Basada en la Evidencia en Atención Primaria / Implementation of Evidenced- Based Nursing in Primary Care

Introducción: La implementación de la Enfermería Basada en la Evidencia (EBE) destaca por sus múltiples beneficios, tanto para el paciente, como para las enfermeras. Sin embargo, existe dificultad en su implementación atribuida a diferentes causas.Objetivos: Conocer el uso diario, la actitud frente a la EBE y las habilidades y conocimientos para aplicarla por las enfermeras de varios centros de salud de la Región de Murcia, además de los factores autopercibidos que dificultan la implementación y las medidas para paliarlo.Métodos: Estudio de investigación mixta de estrategia concurrente de triangulación, transversal, descriptivo y multicéntrico compuesto de un cuestionario validado y dos preguntas abiertas.Resultados: Participaron 65 enfermeras, predominantemente mujeres, de las cuales el 50,8% ha recibido formación en EBE. Las puntuaciones de los apartados del cuestionario son: 27,02 (x̄) en el uso diario de EBE, 18 (m) en la actitud y 44,15 (x̄) en las habilidades y conocimientos de EBE. Algunos factores autopercibidos que dificultan la implementación de la EBE son la falta de formación y de tiempo y la precariedad laboral y algunas medidas que sugieren para paliarlo son: formación, contratación de personal y trabajo en equipo. Conclusiones: Los participantes muestran una actitud favorable frente a la EBE, pero el uso diario y las habilidades y conocimientos son moderados, observándose relación entre la formación en EBE y la especialización de enfermería con mayor habilidades y conocimientos en EBE. Se destaca la necesidad de realizar estudios de mayor impacto para una evaluación más completa e implementación de las estrategias oportunas (AU)

Introduction: The implementation of Evidenced- Based Nursing (EBN) is characterized by multiple benefits, for the patients and the nurses. However, the implementation is difficult for different reasons. Objectives: To evaluate the daily use of the EBN, the attitude towards EBN and the skills and knowledge of nurses to apply EBN in the selected health centers and also, to explore the self-perceived factors that may hinder the implementation of EBN at work and the possible measures to improve it by the nurses that work in PC. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive, multicenter and mixed concurrent triangulation strategy research, compose of a validated questionnaire and two open questions. Results: 65 nurses participated, mostly women, of whom 50,8% have received EBN’s formation. The punctuation of the different parts of the questionnaire are:27,02 (x̄) in the EBN’s daily use, 18 (m) in the attitude and 44,15 (x̄) in the EBN’s skills and knowledge. Some factors self-perceived that difficult the EBN’s implementation are the lack of formation and time and the job insecurity and there are some measures suggested for palliate it such as: formation, recruitment and teamwork. Conclusions: The participants show a favorable attitude towards EBN, but daily use and skills and knowledge are moderate, observing a relationship between training in EBN and nursing specialization with greater skills and knowledge in EBN. There is a need to carry out studies with a greater impact for a more complete evaluation and implementation of the appropriate strategies (AU)

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in colorectal cancer diagnosis and presentation / Impacto de la pandemia del COVID-19 en el diagnóstico y la presentación del cáncer colorrectal

Background and objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a decrease in the colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence, due to the disruption of screening programmes and a downscaling of endoscopic activity. The endpoint of this study is to evaluate if the pandemic has led to a change in CRC diagnostic rate and presentation in our population. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study of all public hospitals of the Aragon region, attending a population of 1,329,391 inhabitants. We have analyzed all CRC cases detected and endoscopic units workload the year before the pandemic onset (1 March 2019–14 March 2020) and the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (15 March 2020–28 February 2021). Results: The diagnosis of CRC cases dropped a 38.9% (888 pre-pandemic vs 542 pandemic cases). Also, there were 30.3% less colonoscopies performed (24,860 vs 17,337). During the pandemic, CRC cases were diagnosed in older patients (72.4±12.2 vs 71.2±12.1 years, p=0.021), and had more frequently severe complications at diagnosis (14.6% vs 10.4%, p=0.019). Moreover, most CRC cases were diagnosed in symptomatic patients (81.4%). No significant difference was found in CRC stage at diagnosis, although stage IV was more frequent (20.1% vs 16.1%). Most hospitals reported a lower workload of endoscopic activity. Conclusion: CRC diagnostic rate was lower after the onset of the pandemic. CRC was diagnosed in older patients and was more frequently associated with complications. After the onset of the pandemic, the endoscopic units did not reach the workload performed previously. (AU)

Introducción y objetivo: La pandemia del COVID-19 ha provocado una disminución en la incidencia de cáncer colorrectal (CCR) tras la suspensión de los programas de cribado y la reducción de la actividad endoscópica. El objetivo del estudio es evaluar si la pandemia se ha asociado a un cambio en la incidencia y presentación del CCR en nuestra población. Métodos: Estudio multicéntrico, retrospectivo de todos los hospitales públicos de Aragón, con 1.329.391 habitantes. Analizamos todos los CRC detectados y la carga laboral de las unidades de endoscopia del año prepandémico (1 marzo 2019 – 14 marzo 2020) y el primer año de la pandemia (15 marzo 2020 – 28 febrero 2021). Resultados: El diagnóstico de CRC descendió un 38,9% (888 casos prepandemia vs. 542 en pandemia). Se realizaron un 30,3% menos de colonoscopias (24.860 vs. 17.337). El CRC en pandemia se diagnosticó en pacientes de mayor edad (72,4±12,2 vs 71,2±12,1 años; p=0,021) y presentaron más complicaciones graves en el momento del diagnóstico (14,6 vs. 10,4%; p=0.019). La mayoría de los CRC se diagnosticaron en pacientes sintomáticos (81,4%). No hubo diferencias en el estadio al diagnóstico aunque el estadio iv fue más frecuente (20,1 vs. 16,1%). La mayoría de los hospitales reiniciaron la actividad endoscópica con una menor carga laboral. Conclusión: La tasa diagnóstica de CRC descendió tras el inicio de la pandemia, el CRC fue diagnosticado en pacientes mayores y se asoció con más complicaciones al diagnóstico. Tras el inicio de la pandemia, la mayoría de los hospitales reiniciaron su actividad con una menor carga laboral. (AU)

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in colorectal cancer diagnosis and presentation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a decrease in the colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence, due to the disruption of screening programmes and a downscaling of endoscopic activity. The endpoint of this study is to evaluate if the pandemic has led to a change in CRC diagnostic rate and presentation in our population. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective study of all public hospitals of the Aragon region, attending a population of 1,329,391 inhabitants. We have analyzed all CRC cases detected and endoscopic units workload the year before the pandemic onset (1 March 2019-14 March 2020) and the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (15 March 2020-28 February 2021). RESULTS: The diagnosis of CRC cases dropped a 38.9% (888 pre-pandemic vs 542 pandemic cases). Also, there were 30.3% less colonoscopies performed (24,860 vs 17,337). During the pandemic, CRC cases were diagnosed in older patients (72.4±12.2 vs 71.2±12.1 years, p=0.021), and had more frequently severe complications at diagnosis (14.6% vs 10.4%, p=0.019). Moreover, most CRC cases were diagnosed in symptomatic patients (81.4%). No significant difference was found in CRC stage at diagnosis, although stage IV was more frequent (20.1% vs 16.1%). Most hospitals reported a lower workload of endoscopic activity. CONCLUSION: CRC diagnostic rate was lower after the onset of the pandemic. CRC was diagnosed in older patients and was more frequently associated with complications. After the onset of the pandemic, the endoscopic units did not reach the workload performed previously.