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Original Article • Braz. j. otorhinolaryngol. 89 (3) • May-Jun 2023 • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjorl.2023.01.002   copy

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers⋆ ⋆ Study conducted at the Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (ICESP), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Highlights

  • The total number of diagnostic exams and surgical procedures had decreased significantly.

  • Surgery for head and neck cancer treatment increased in the total surgical logbook.

  • Most residents faced reduction in surgical logbook and deployment to COVID-19 facilities.

Abstract

Objective

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the healthcare access, treatment, and follow-up of oncologic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected consultation and follow-up demand as well as treatment volume at Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery centers.

Methods

An anonymous online questionnaire was used for collection of data across all Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers across a 3-month period (April‒June 2021). This information included the characteristics of each center, and the perceived self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic activities, residency training, and the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with Head and Neck diseases between 2019 and 2020.

Results

The response rate across the 40 registered Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers was 47.5% (n = 19). The data showed a significant reduction in the total number of consultations (24.8%) and number of attending patients (20.2%) between 2019 and 2020. The total number of diagnostic exams (31.6%) and surgical procedures (13.0%) conducted over this period also decreased significantly.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant national impact on Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers. Future studies should examine the long-term effects of the pandemic on cancer treatment.

Level of evidence

Evidence from a single descriptive study.

Keywords
COVID-19; Pandemics; Cancer treatment; Head and Neck Neoplasm

Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Sede da Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico Facial, Av. Indianópolia, 1287, 04063-002 São Paulo/SP Brasil, Tel.: (0xx11) 5053-7500, Fax: (0xx11) 5053-7512 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revista@aborlccf.org.br
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