The effects of educational interventions and the COVID-19 pandemic on the time to diagnosis in pediatric patients with primary central nervous system tumors.

Background: Primary central nervous system tumors are a leading cause of death and disability amongst pediatric cancer patients. Akron Children's Hospital published data in 2018 on response time for brain tumor diagnosis and implemented components of an established program to decrease diagnostic delays and thereby reduce tumor- and treatment-related morbidities. This study evaluates if there was an improvement in the total diagnostic interval (TDI, time from symptom onset to diagnosis) after provider education. During the study, the COVID-19 pandemic forced alterations in care delivery. The impact this had on the TDI was also assessed.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed, and patients were separated into 2008-2017 (historical) and 2018-2021 (posteducation) groups to assess the effect of educational interventions on TDI. The posteducation cohort was analyzed separately to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: The 85 patients studied in the post-education group showed a median TDI of 31 days. Though not statistically significant (P = .939), this represents an 11-day decrease in median TDI compared to the historical group (42 days). In addition, the posteducation group showed an increase in the average number of healthcare provider visits (HCP, 2.4 historical to 3.2 posteducation, P = .009). The pre-COVID-19 group (median TDI 43.5 days) did not differ statistically from the post-COVID-19 group (30-day median TDI).

Conclusion: The nonsignificant decrease in TDI and concurrent increase in HCP visits after implementation of education suggests a potential gap amongst providers in working-up primary CNS tumors. These results will influence expansion of education to further improve TDI.