Teleoncology or telemedicine for oncology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: The new normal for breast cancer survivors?


YILDIZ F., Oksuzoglu B.

Future Oncology, cilt.16, sa.28, ss.2191-2195, 2020 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 28
  • Basım Tarihi: 2020
  • Doi Numarası: 10.2217/fon-2020-0714
  • Dergi Adı: Future Oncology
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.2191-2195
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: breast cancer, COVID-19, telemedicine, teleoncology
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background: Telemedicine is seen as a savior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials & methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with cancer patients who were interviewed via telemedicine from a tertiary care comprehensive oncology center. Results: A total of 421 patients were included in the study and 118 of them (28.0%) were >65 years old. Communication was provided most frequently by voice call (n = 213; 50.5%). The majority of the patients contacted by telemedicine had breast cancer (n = 270; 64.1%). For 135 patients (32.1%) no further examination or intervention was required and the previously planned follow-up visit was postponed by the clinician. Conclusion: This study showed that telemedicine could open a new era for medical oncology specialists.