The Effect of COVID-19 on Radiation Oncology Practice in Türkiye

Abstract

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-19) was the name given to a novel pneumonia outbreak that occurred in Wuhan (Hubei province, China) in December 2019. For patients undergoing or scheduled for radiation therapy, radiation oncology (RO) departments were required to adjust their management protocols to maintain their ability to provide optimal care. The present survey study assesses the change in the daily practices of Turkish radiation oncologists. METHODS An online questionnaire was developed in Google Forms and sent out to oncologists registered with the Turkish society for RO. A total of 98 radiation oncologists completed the online questionnaire after three reminders were sent to the recipients over the course of 1 week. RESULTS After the pandemic has started, 65% of radiation oncologists moved their wards and outpatient clinics to different hospital units, resulting in an approximate 70% decline in the delivery of patient services in RO. Since the beginning of the pandemic in Turkiye, 52% of radiation oncologists have not been assigned to services related to COVID-19. Around half of the radiation oncologists surveyed stated that they were shunned by the society due to fear of transmitting the COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION Further studies are needed to steer the creation of new regulations related to radiation oncologists, to be applied in the event of such emergencies as the COVID-19 pandemic.