LETTER TO EDITOR Healthcare workers in oncology during the COVID-19 pandemic: a double challenge?

Abstract

Dear Editor, To date, there is scarce evidence in the scientific literature from which we might generalize regarding the psychological fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare professionals. It is evident from daily clinical experience and demands on healthcare professio- nals that the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to impose higher-than-usual levels of distress, anxiety, and concern on professionals and may place these individuals at risk for developing stress-related disorders.1 It is also reasonable to assume that this heightened strain affects all practitioners in various care settings (especially those with more complex and high care loads such as oncologists) and is not limited to those directly involved in the care of patients affected by COVID-19. One may begin to wonder how oncology workers, who are at the forefront of a fight against cancer every day, will manage this additional source of stress. Under- standing and addressing the reasons for stress among these healthcare professio- nals will enable us to listen, support, prevent its effects on healthcare staff. The following considerations are the result of the field-to-field experience of the operators of the UOC Medical Oncology of the ASP of Syracuse, collected during the first months of the pandemic (February-May 2020) by the unit’s psychology service.