Real-world burden of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression: Results of a U.S. online survey of patients with cancer.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e19299-e19299
Author(s):  
Robert S. Epstein ◽  
Matti S. Aapro ◽  
Upal K. Basu Roy ◽  
Tehseen Salimi ◽  
JoAnn Krenitsky ◽  
...  

e19299 Background: Research into the real-world impact of chemotherapy (CT)-induced myelosuppression on patients’ lives is limited. This study aimed to investigate the impact of CT-induced myelosuppression on patients with lung, breast, or colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Following Institutional Review Board approval to proceed with exception, a survey of participants identified from an online U.S. patient panel was conducted in Nov/Dec 2019. Participants who had been treated with CT in the past year and experienced ≥1 episode of myelosuppression (‘a decrease in bone marrow activity resulting in the reduced production of blood cells’) were eligible for participation. The survey was administered with predominantly close-ended questions, and lay definitions of key terms were provided to aid response selection. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize key findings. P values were calculated using the Chi-square test. Results: 301 participants completed the online survey (breast cancer, n = 153 [51%]; lung cancer, n = 100 [33%]; CRC, n = 48 [16%]). Most participants were aged > 40 years, 60% were female, 60% were currently employed, and 75% had been diagnosed with cancer within the last 3 years. Anemia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia were reported by 61%, 59%, 37%, and 34% of participants, respectively. Fatigue was the most commonly noted side-effect of CT (reported by 72% of participants), with 55% of participants rating it as highly bothersome (9 or 10 on a 1–10 scale of ‘bothersomeness’). Most participants (89%) considered myelosuppression to have a moderate or major impact on life (major life impact, 40%; moderate life impact, 49%; minor life impact, 12%). Patient-reported impact of myelosuppression was significantly higher among participants aged < 50 years vs those aged ≥50 years (p = 0.01); however, no significant differences were observed when participants were stratified by sex, employment status, comorbidities (depression, diabetes, hypertension), or type of cancer. Significantly more participants with fatigue, considering themselves to have a weakened immune system, or noticing easy bruising/bleeding reported a major life impact vs those without these side effects (44% vs 27%, 52% vs 26%, and 50% vs 34%, respectively; all p < 0.01). Conclusions: These data provide further insights into the substantial real-world patient burden of symptoms arising from CT and associated with myelosuppression. Preventing or proactively managing CT-induced myelosuppression could have a major impact on patients’ quality of life.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serafín Sánchez-Gómez ◽  
Juan Manuel Maza-Solano ◽  
Luz López-Flórez ◽  
Pablo Parente Arias ◽  
David Lobo Duro ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundTraining in surgical specialties has declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. A study was carried out to further analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on specific aspects of clinical, training, and research activities performed by the otolaryngology residents in Spain.MethodsA cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted during the last two weeks of February 2021. The study consisted of an online survey taken by otolaryngology residents who had undertaken one-year continuing training from February 15, 2020 to February 15, 2021 and consisted of 26 questions exploring the impact of the COVID-19 on the health of the ENT residents and training activities. Categorical variables were reported as frequency and percentage. When indicated, Pearson´s Chi-square test (c2) with Yates´s correction and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) were used.Results143 completed surveys were received from 264 Residents (54.17%). 36 residents (25.2%) have suffered from the disease due to SARS-CoV-2. Most of them only developed mild symptoms (86.1%), with 3 requiring hospitalization (8.3%). The origin of infection was unknown in all cases and the need for confinement was principally due to either attending an asymptomatic patient in 9 cases (6.3%) or to being in close contact with an asymptomatic person off hospital grounds in 22 (15.4%). 60.1% of the residents surveyed reported having lost more than 6 months of their training period, and in 18.8% of cases, it was as high as 10 and 12 months. There has been a reduction of more than 75% of what was planned in surgical training (p < 0.05) of tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, stapedectomy, cochlear implants, endoscopic sinonasal and anterior skull base surgery, septoplasty and turbinoplasty.ConclusionsThe decline in ENT activity and residents having to assist in other COVID-19 units during the most critical moments of the pandemic, has caused the main reduction in their training capacity. Virtual activities have been widely accepted, but they have not completely replaced all residents’ training needs. Specialized ENT training should be extended from 6 months to 1 year to ensure adequate training, especially for recovering the surgical Otology and Rhinology hands-on training lost during the pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 11002-11002
Author(s):  
Annie P. Im ◽  
Yana G. Najjar ◽  
Todd Bear ◽  
Devin Dressman ◽  
Kara A. Bernstein ◽  
...  

11002 Background: Challenges for women in science and academic medicine have been well documented, which include gender disparities related to parental and domestic responsibilities that interfere with work or career opportunities. We aimed to evaluate the experiences and working environment at an NCI-designated Cancer Center for current and future parents in the post-COVID era. We hypothesized there would be differences in the experiences of parents between men and women, and between trainees, faculty, and staff. Methods: A 61-question online survey for current and future parents was developed by the Women’s Task Force of the Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Questions focused on perceived attitudes towards parents, the supportive nature of the working environment for parents, experiences with breastfeeding as a working parent, and childcare responsibilities pre- and post-COVID. The survey was sent to 562 scientific faculty, physicians, trainees, and research staff at HCC. Comparisons between groups of interest were performed using a chi-square test. Results: There were 214 respondents (38% response rate) with even representation: 38% were faculty, 27% were trainees, and 35% were research staff; 59% were female. 6% of respondents reported being “discouraged or excluded from participating in specific activities due to having or planning children”, and 24% felt “moderately supported” as a parent at work. Regarding breastfeeding, 58% reported that the decision to breastfeed was moderately impacted by returning to work, and of the women who were currently or recently breastfeeding, 42% reported that there were not enough lactation rooms in their building. Other questions in the survey aimed to evaluate what further support would be helpful for parents. 40% reported that on-site childcare would help better support them as a parent, especially because 47% documented that finding childcare was difficult and 53% documented that they looked at ≥4 daycares or nannies. Further, 49% reported that they did not know where to look for resources in finding childcare. Pre-COVID, 32% reported spending 2-3 hours a day on childcare and/or home responsibilities; post-COVID, 55% reported spending ≥4 hours a day. These effects were more pronounced in women compared to men (p < 0.05). Pre-COVID, 40% reported that they were unable to participate in work events due to childcare responsibilities, which increased to 54% post-COVID, and was most pronounced in faculty and trainees compared to staff (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our survey describes some of the universal challenges of working parents in Oncology, which have been exacerbated by COVID. The impact of COVID was more pronounced in women. Further studies are needed for systematic interventions or policies that improve support for working parents, including unified resources and working groups for current and expecting parents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 591-601
Author(s):  
Akansha Kishen ◽  
Anjali A K ◽  
Brundha M P ◽  
Muralidharan N P

Covid 19 is considered to be a pandemic virus infection. SARS-Cov-2 causes it. It is a viral infection that is transmitted through aerosol and droplet contamination, cross-infection, etc. Dentists are at a higher risk due to this corona. It has affected daily routines of dentist's life as they are unavailable to run the clinic and attend to patients. Different search engines like PubMed, and Google Scholar was used. The questionnaire consisting of twenty questions was prepared by using online survey google forms and circulated among the participants. SPSS software was used to evaluate the results and data collection. Statistical analysis was done by chi-square test. Later, results were being tabulated. This survey that is taken among dental students, dentists, and random public, it is seen that the majority of them are well aware of this recent pandemic attack. (COVID-19). It is concluded that dentists are affected to a significant extent due to coronavirus as their daily routine is affected severely. This study aims to identify the effect on dentist life on a routine basis due to the pandemic COVID - 19.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110280
Author(s):  
Maria L Salvetat ◽  
Carlo Salati ◽  
Patrizia Busatto ◽  
Marco Zeppieri

Purpose: To assess ocular pathologies admitted to Italian Emergency Eye Departments (EEDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic national lockdown in 2020 in comparison with the same period in 2019. Methods: Electronic records of all patients presenting at EEDs of two tertiary-care Eye Centers during the COVID-19 national lockdown in Italy (March 10–May 3, 2020) were compared with the equivalent period in 2019. Main outcomes were patient age, gender, and diagnoses. Statistical analysis included unpaired Student t-tests, Poisson regression, and chi-square test. Results: Overall EED visits significantly decreased by 54.1% during the 2020 lockdown compared to 2019 (851 vs 1854, p < 0.001). During lockdown, patients showed comparable mean age (52.8 years in 2020 vs 53.3 years in 2019, p = 0.52) and significant male gender bias (61.1% in 2020 vs 55.8% in 2019, p < 0.0001). The most frequent pathologies were eye inflammations, trauma-related incidents, and spontaneous acute vitreous detachment. Patients with inflammation, headache/hemicrania, and spontaneous subconjunctival hemorrhages were significantly less, whereas those with trauma-related diagnoses were significantly higher during the lockdown as compared with 2019 ( p < 0.05). The proportion of non-urgent visits decreased from 17% in 2019 to 8% in 2020 ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: During the 2020 lockdown, there was a significant reduction of accesses to EED, especially for non-urgent pathologies. Potentially visual function threatening conditions, such as trauma-related pathologies, retinal detachment or ruptures, and wet AMD, showed lower number of cases but higher or stable proportion relative to the total caseload, suggesting a correct and efficient access to ophthalmic health care during the pandemic period.


2021 ◽  
pp. 153857442110225
Author(s):  
Joel Mathew John ◽  
Vimalin Samuel ◽  
Dheepak Selvaraj ◽  
Prabhu Premkumar ◽  
Albert A Kota ◽  
...  

Objective: The use of drug coated balloon (DCB) for angioplasty has shown superior efficacy against plain balloons for treating complex infrainguinal arterial disease. We report and compare the clinical outcomes following application of DCB(Paclitaxel) and plain angioplasty (POBA) in our tertiary care centre. Methods: A retrospective, single centre analysis of 301 patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia involving the infrainguinal segment was conducted between September 2014 and September 2018, after approval from the Institutional review board. We analyzed clinical outcomes by measuring postoperative ABI improvement, restenosis requiring reintervention procedure, minor and major amputations at the end of 18 months. . To find the association between the group variables (POBA and DCB) and other risk variables, Chi-square test/Fisher’s exact test was used. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used. Results: Patients who underwent treatment with plain balloon (POBA) and DCB(Paclitaxel) angioplasty were 246(81.7%) and 55(18.3%) respectively. Our study group was predominantly male (Male: Female = 6.7:1), most patients were more than 50 years of age (n = 251, 83.4%). Smoking (n = 199, 66.1%) and diabetes (n = 210, 69.8%) were the most common atherosclerotic risk factors. Postoperative Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABI) improvement were similar in both groups (POBA = 57.7%; DCB = 69.8%; p = 0.103). Minor and major amputations following POBA were 26% and 22%; and DCB were 12.7% and 16.4% respectively. Re-stenosis requiring a re-interventional procedure within 18 months was 15%, (n = 37) following POBA; and 12.7% (n = 7) following DCB (p = 0.661). Conclusions: This retrospective study shows similar clinical limb related outcomes following POBA and DCB at 18 months. However, our comparative analysis between the POBA and DCB groups was totally unadjusted and not adjusted for common confounders such as age and sex. Hence, for one to draw definitive conclusions leading to changes in clinical practice; a randomized, prospective study with a larger patient cohort is needed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 295-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.O. Miantsia ◽  
F. Meutchieye ◽  
S. Niassy

The current work is aimed at generating information on giant crickets and the impact of commonly used pesticides on the natural population of these crickets. Data was collected based on interviews and complemented with field observations. Out of 319 respondents surveyed, 290 were aware of the use of the giant cricket as a food source, and 161 were active consumers. Regarding the availability of the giant cricket, respondents reported that the crickets’ populations were diminishing because of farming practices. About 219 persons reported that commonly used herbicides harm giant crickets at different stages. This could be attributed to the scarcity of this species, as mentioned by 233 respondents. The results showed that 130 respondents were engaged in gathering giant crickets for consumption. This insect gathering is related to soil tilling. Chi-square test showed a significant dependence relationship between herbicides use and cricket scarcity. Although less than a majority (129) of respondents are making regular use of persistent pesticides (herbicides), it has been observed that intensive use of pesticides could become a popular practice in smallholder farming categories. This paper thus suggests the need for training and surveillance concerning the trade of pesticides in the region and proposes further investigations into pesticides residues or traces in collected giant crickets consumed in the study site and in all areas with similar conditions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (07) ◽  
pp. 718-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Cabitza ◽  
Vincenza Ragone ◽  
Riccardo Compagnoni ◽  
Pietro Randelli ◽  
Gabrielle Tuijthof ◽  
...  

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to generate consensus among experienced surgeons on “what skills a resident should possess before continuing safe training in the operating room (OR).” An online survey of 65 questions was developed and distributed to surgeons in the European community. A total of 216 responded. The survey included 15 questions regarding generic and specific skills; 16 on patient and tissue manipulation, 11 on knowledge of pathology and 6 on inspection of e-anatomical structures; 5 methods to prepare residents; and 12 on specific skills exercises. The importance of each question (arthroscopic skill) was evaluated ranging from 1 (not important at all) to 6 (very important). Chi-square test, respondent agreement, and a qualitative ranking method were determined to identify the top ranked skills (p < 0.05). The top four of general skills considered important were “anatomical knowledge,” “tissue manipulation,” “spatial perception,” and “triangulation” (all chi-square test > 134, p < 0.001, all excellent agreement > 0.85, and all “high priority” level). The top ranked 2 specific arthroscopic skills were “portal placement” and “triangulating the tip of the probe with a 30-degree scope” (chi-square test > 176, p < 0.001, excellent agreement, and assigned high priority). The online survey identified consensus on skills that are considered important for a trainee to possess before continuing training in the OR. Compared with the Canadian colleagues, the European arthroscopy community demonstrated similar ranking.


2021 ◽  
pp. 01-06
Author(s):  
Unnati Saxena ◽  
Debdipta Bose ◽  
Shruti Saha ◽  
Nithya J Gogtay ◽  
Urmila M Thatte

The present audit was carried out with the objective of evaluating warning letters (WLs) issued to trial sponsors, clinical investigators and institutional review boards (IRBs) by the United States Food and Drug Administration during a six-year period and compare it with two similar earlier audits. WLs were reviewed and classified as per stakeholders and further categorised as per predefined violation themes. The chi-square test was performed for trend analysis of WLs. A total of 62 WLs were issued to the three stakeholders. The maximum number of WLs were issued to the clinical investigators (36/62, 58.06%), followed by sponsors (19/62, 30.64%), and least to the IRBs (7/62, 11.29%). Among sponsors, lack of standard operating procedures for the monitoring, receipt, evaluation and reporting of post-marketing adverse drug events was the most common violation theme (8/19, 42.1%). Among clinical investigators, deviation from investigational plan was the most common violation theme (31/36, 86.11%.). For IRBs, inadequate documentation was the most common violation theme (6/7, 85.71%). We saw an overall reduction in the number of WLs issued to the stakeholders. Thus, we identified multiple areas on which each stakeholder should work for improvement.


Author(s):  
Ch.Narahari Et. al.

In the present study we analyze the employees’ perception towards coping measures adopted byfirms in software industry. The considered coping constructs adopted for the study in stress abatement areVenting of Emotions,Problem Focused, Seeking Information and emotional support, Positive Emotion-Focused, were, employee perception was acquired by a systematic survey.A total sample of 800 employees’perceptions have been collected through simple random technique and out of which survey respondents, irregular responses are eliminated finally 756 samples are determined for statistical analysis. Chi-square test was performed to determine the association between perceptions and model constructs. Results are reported and discussions are made as per the results and in correlation between results of previous literature.Finally, suggestions and future indication for extension of the study are proposed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 232596712110556
Author(s):  
Tobias Wörner ◽  
Ryan J. Frayne ◽  
Thomas Magnusson ◽  
Frida Eek

Background: Many ice hockey goaltending techniques force hip joints and groin muscles into extreme ranges of motion, which may increase the risk of hip and groin problems. Purpose: To explore how elite goaltenders and goaltending coaches perceive the demands of common goaltending techniques on the hip and groin region. We further explored differences in perception between goaltenders and their coaches as well as between junior (age <20 years) and senior (age ≥20 years) goaltenders. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: We developed a model to categorize common ice hockey goaltending techniques into quantifiable units and invited elite goaltenders and coaches in Sweden to complete an online survey. Participants were asked to rate the perceived demands of each technique on the hip and groin using a Likert scale (not at all, slightly, somewhat, very, or extremely demanding). Using the chi-square test, the proportion of participants perceiving each technique as very or extremely demanding were compared between goaltenders and coaches as well as between senior and junior goaltenders. Results: We received responses from 132 goaltenders and 43 coaches. The stances most frequently perceived as very or extremely demanding were the reverse vertical horizontal post-play (40%) and the butterfly save (25%). Among transitions, movements into the post were most frequently rated as very or extremely demanding (11%–40%). Several techniques were perceived as demanding by a larger share of coaches than goaltenders (difference, 13%–46%; P < .001–.028) and a larger share of senior versus junior goaltenders (difference, 12%–20%; P = .13–.18). Conclusion: The post-play and the butterfly were the goaltending techniques most frequently perceived as demanding, and more coaches than goaltenders percieved these techniques demanding. The results of this study may inform injury prevention efforts for ice hockey goaltending.


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