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Wong SL, Johnston E, Rossell N, Malogolowkin M, Rios L, Gómez García W, Antillon-Klussmann F, Fu L, Fuentes-Alabi S, Quintero Delgado K, Ortiz Morales D, Rodriguez-Loza C, Apesoa-Varano EC, Friedrich P, Alvarez E. The Effect of COVID-19 on Oncology Care for Adolescents and Young Adults in Latin America. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol 2024; 13:703-707. [PMID: 38502817 DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2023.0140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but little is known about how adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer were affected. Sixty-seven physicians and nonphysician providers were interviewed about their experiences caring for AYAs with cancer in Latin America. Quotes related to the COVID-19 pandemic were identified and grouped into themes. Barriers from the COVID-19 pandemic included limited space, restrictions on travel, reduced funding, limited staff, limited services, and changes to treatment. However, improvements to care that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic included better access to distance learning and telemedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Wong
- School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Emily Johnston
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Nuria Rossell
- Independent Medical Anthropology Researcher, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | - Marcio Malogolowkin
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Davis School of Medicine, University of California, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Ligia Rios
- Department of Pediatrics, Unidad de Oncología Pediátrica y del Adolescente, Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima, Perú
| | - Wendy Gómez García
- Department of Oncology, Dr. Robert Reid Cabral Children's Hospital, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- National Cancer Institute, INCART, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Federico Antillon-Klussmann
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- School of Medicine, Francisco Marroquín University, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Ligia Fu
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Escuela, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Soad Fuentes-Alabi
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Program for Childhood Cancer, Ayudame a Vivir Foundation/National Children's Hospital Benjamin Bloom, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | - Karina Quintero Delgado
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital del Niño Dr. José Renán Esquivel, Oncología, Panama City, Panama
| | | | - Carolina Rodriguez-Loza
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Program for Childhood Cancer, Ayudame a Vivir Foundation/National Children's Hospital Benjamin Bloom, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | | | - Paola Friedrich
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Global Pediatric Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Elysia Alvarez
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Davis School of Medicine, University of California, Sacramento, California, USA
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