Abstract 1720P
Background
No data concerning systemic oncological treatments' safety during COVID-19 outbreak were available in Belgium. The aim of this study is to analyse patients’ perception of both the risk of infection and the need for change in clinical practice in oncology.
Methods
A 12-items questionnaire using the Likert scale for 11 of these questions concerning the patients’ perception of COVID-19 was distributed to patients admitted for systemic therapy of solid tumours in our day-care unit between April 14th and 30th, 2020 (4-6 weeks after lockdown in Belgium).
Results
237 patients were included in our research project after signing an informed consent. Median age was 63 years-old (range 26-90). Most patients suffered from lung (n=59), breast (n=54), gastrointestinal (n=47), gynaecological (n=34) or urological (n=16) cancers or melanoma (n=15). 87 patients received (neo)adjuvant treatments, 150 patients were treated for metastatic disease. Patients received chemotherapy (n=106), immunotherapy (n=60), targeted therapy (n=36) or combinations (n=35). The patients who estimated their risk of dying because of COVID-19 infections as <0.1%, 1%, 10%, 20%, 50% or 100% were respectively 9.7%, 15.2%, 13.5%, 6.3%, 32.4%, 11.4% (no opinion: 10.8%). Most patients agreed (21.5%) or strongly agreed (64.6%) that it is important for them to receive the best cancer treatment available even if this may increase the infection risk. Very few patients agreed (1.3%) or strongly agreed (2.5%) that they were considering stopping the ongoing therapy because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Most patients agreed (33.8%) or strongly agreed (49.4%) that the institution was doing everything possible for risk reduction of contamination while receiving the therapy in the day-care unit.
Conclusions
Although patients evaluated the risk of dying due to COVID-19 infection as extremely high, they are still asking for the best oncological care available. The majority recognize the effort of the institution in minimizing infectious risk. Additional analyses will be reported at time of presentation. Questionnaires will be repeated 3 months after the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Fondation Leon Fredericq.
Disclosure
A. Rorive: Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: MSD; Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: BMS. B. Sautois: Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Janssen; Advisory/Consultancy: Clovis; Advisory/Consultancy: Sanofi; Advisory/Consultancy: Astellas. A. Sibille: Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: BMS; MSD; Boehringer Ingelheim; Roche; Advisory/Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Takada. J. Collignon: Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Roche; Amgen; Pfizer; Advisory/Consultancy: Servier; Bayer; Merck; Lilly; Sanofi; Sirtex; Celgene; Ipsen; Novartis. C. Gennigens: Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Astra-Zeneca; Advisory/Consultancy: BMS; GSK; Lilly; MSD; Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Ipsen; Pfizer; Pharmamar; Roche. P. Freres: Advisory/Consultancy: Ipsen; Merck; BMS. G. Jerusalem: Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Novartis; Roche; Pfizer; Advisory/Consultancy, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Lilly; Amgen; BMS; AstraZeneca; Daiichi Sankyo; Advisory/Consultancy: Abbvie; Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Medimmune; MerckKGaA. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.