Provision of medical care to cancer patients in Ukraine during Russo-Ukrainian war: A survey of oncologists’ perceptions

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackground On February 24th, 2022, a full-scale armed conflict broke out in Ukraine, resulting in a significant impact on the healthcare system, as well as extensive damage to the country's infrastructure. The aim of this study was to assess the challenges faced by oncologists in providing cancer care to patients.Methods Data were collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire administered using the Google survey tool and distributed to all participants.Results This was a cross-sectional study that involved 111 oncology specialists. Physicians practising in regions that were partially or temporarily occupied by the Russian army (Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia) reported a significantly higher decline in patient numbers compared to physicians in unoccupied regions (70.0% vs 20.9%; p < 0.0001). Most physicians from both occupied and unoccupied regions reported an increase in the number of patients with advanced disease (65.0% vs. 65.9%; p = 0.735). The majority of physicians from both occupied and unoccupied regions did not see loss of information, changes in cancer treatment phases, and self-medication as a concern. The majority were satisfied with the availability of medicines and equipment.Conclusion This needs-based assessment is crucial for improving the quality of cancer care as it provides valuable information for designing public health interventions.KEYWORDS: Russo-Ukrainian warcancer patientsoncology servicesphysicians’ perceptionsquality of care Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThe author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.Notes on contributorsValeriy ZubValeriy Zub, PhD, Doctoral Student of the Department of Public Health Management, Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine. He is the author of more than 50 articles published in scientific journals, materials of national and international conferences.Yuliya SemenovaYuliya Semenova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Assistant Professor at the Nazarbayev University School of Medicine. Research areas are public and global healthOleksandr TolstanovOleksandr Tolstanov, ScD, Professor, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work, Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine. His scientific direction is focused on improvement of medical care management, theory and practice of the state health care management. He is the author of more than 150 scientific publications. He made a great scientific and practical contribution to the modernization and reform of the health care system of Ukraine.Andrii KotuzaAndrii Kotuza, ScD, Professor, Head of the Center of science, organization of quality control and safety of medical activity, Feofaniya Clinical Hospital, State Management of Affairs of Ukraine. He has extensive experience in public health, healthcare economics, strategic planning and development of medical activity.Taras GutorTaras Gutor, PhD, Head of the department of Social Medicine, Economics and Organization of Health Care, Head of the Biostatistics Center at Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University. His main research areas are public health and biostatistics and he published the research outcomes related to these areas in highly ranked international journals.Oksana MatsyuraOksana Matsyura, PhD, DrSci, Associate Professor of Pediatrics Department №2, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University (Ukraine). Her area of research interest is aimed to increase the effectiveness of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the disorders in pediatric practice, patient safety and the impact of the diseases on the quality of life.Roman LysiukRoman Lysiuk, PhD (Pharmacy), Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine. He is a Director of the Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Norway. Roman Lysiuk is an author of over 150 scientific publications concerning phytotherapy and pharmacology of herbal substances, including those for the treatment of civilization diseases.Geir BjørklundGeir Bjørklund, MD, is a researcher in nutritional and environmental medicine. He is the founder and president of CONEM.