Abstract 191P
Background
The Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC), a partnership of 42 patient organisations across 30 nations, surveyed lung cancer patients to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their experience of care. The global online survey examined how care pathways had changed, and how this affected patients’ communication with their medical team.
Methods
A multi-national steering group of patients, clinicians and advocates devised questions to explore: How easy patients found it to contact their medical team Whether patients had continued attending appointments in person Whether patients had experienced virtual consultations, and their view of them if so Questions were translated into multiple languages. GLCC members distributed the survey via emails and social media. Results were collated and analysed by the steering group. The GLCC produced a global report with findings for all participating countries, as well as bespoke reports for each country comparing national findings to the global picture.
Results
Responses were received from 10 European nations: Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. 494 of the 1,291 responding patients were from Europe (38%). Headline findings for Europe include: Many patients said there was no difference in how easy it was to contact their medical team. A proportion in almost all countries had found contact harder and some patients said they held back because their team was so busy Most patients had been able to see their medical team in person, but the majority in most countries also had telephone appointments. A smaller proportion of patients in only some countries had video calls The majority of patients in all countries prefer in person appointments, but many liked not having to travel to hospital. A small proportion found them difficult or said they wished to stop.
Conclusions
Conclusion As healthcare systems recover from COVID-19, lung cancer patients’ perspectives on virtual consultations must be considered to ensure they work for everyone, with alternatives and support available for those who find video or telephone difficult. All patients should be encouraged to contact their medical team when they need them, despite the pandemic.
Editorial acknowledgement
Authors: Jackie Fenemore: Lung Cancer Nursing UK Maureen Rigney: G02 Foundation for Lung Cancer Win Boerckel: Cancer Care Merel Hennink: Longkanker Nederland Aoife McNamara: Irish Cancer Society Javi Mayans: Asociación Española de Afectados por el Cáncer de Pulmón Bernard Gaspar: Asociación Española de Afectados por el Cáncer de Pulmón Lauren Pretorius: Campaigning for Cancer Micaela Daniels: Campaigning for Cancer Jesme Fox: Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The author.
Funding
Global Lung Cancer Coalition.
Disclosure
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.