The beginning of the Covid-19 era. The perception of oncological patients (PTS) in active treatment at the brindisi and mauriziano hospital oncology departments

Background: The exceptional circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have had a strong logistical and psychological impact on the population A specific attention has been devoted to the organization of activity of Oncology units and to oncological patients' mental health conditions In fact, together with the anxiety caused by the disease, oncological pts are now experiencing also apprehension because of the pandemic The aim of this research is to evaluate how the Covid-19 emergency has affected access to treatments, management of disease and the psychological impact on pts in 2 Oncology Units in Brindisi (Apulia) and Turin (Piedmont) Methods: In a 2 week period between April and May 2020, a structured questionnaire was administered to pts in active treatment at the Day hospital (DH)/ Day Service (DS) of Oncology Dpts at Brindisi and Mauriziano Hospital The questionnaire was anonymous, self-administered, with 5 closed-ended questions with a 'yes/no' answers and 10 questions involving a modified Likert scale of 4 answers (not at all, a little, quite a bit, very much) Percentage data are analyzed for the whole series and the 2 centers separately Results: 404 questionnaires were collected (Brindisi 202, Turin 202) The main difference involves the number of pts with relatives tested positive to SARS-CoV2 (Apulia 2% vs Piedmont 11 4%, p=0 002) Overall, 343 pts (84,9%) referred no relevant changes in the treatment of their illness They indicated no relevant alterations in the access to medical care (n= 362, 90%), in outpatient visits (n= 341, 84 8%), in running diagnostic exams (n= 340, 84 6%) and in drug supply (n= 365, 90 8%) 291 pts (72,4%) did not perceive a significant risk of contagion in accessing their DH/DS Overall, pts did not believe they have received a significant reduction in assistance (n=372, 92 1%) The communication with the medical staff has been judged effective and clear (n= 374, 93%) and pts claimed it had been easy to reach the staff via phone and/ or e-mail (n=364, 90 1%) There were no relevant differences between the 2 centers Conclusions: Despite the changes in the clinical management of cancer pts due to the Covid-19 emergency, our data show that most pts did not perceive any relevant difference in the management, both from an operational and relational point of view In perspective, we aim to promote a comparative analysis between the 2 regions, to take into account the different morbidity of the Covid-19 infection