ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research (Nov 2021)

Effect of the Pandemic on Quality-of-Life Data Collection in Prostate Cancer Patients

  • Shirsat A,
  • Pashilkar S,
  • Chavan A,
  • Kalra D,
  • Gota V,
  • Joshi A,
  • Nookala Krishnamurthy M

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 13
pp. 937 – 941

Abstract

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Aditi Shirsat,1 Siddhi Pashilkar,2 Ashish Chavan,1 Devanshi Kalra,2 Vikram Gota,1,3 Amit Joshi,2,3 Manjunath Nookala Krishnamurthy1,3 1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; 2Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; 3Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, Maharashtra, IndiaCorrespondence: Manjunath Nookala KrishnamurthyDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Sector- 22, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, 410210, Maharashtra, IndiaTel +91 2268735130Email [email protected]; [email protected]: To understand the difficulties that happen during the quality of life (QoL) data collection in a pandemic and provide measures to overcome them.Methods: We analyzed the recruitment and follow-up data of patients in one of our ongoing study whose aim was to collect the Adverse drug reactions and QoL (at regular intervals) in prostate cancer patients who were on docetaxel. Before the pandemic, we could enroll 31 patients in the study over four months. We analyzed the difficulties experienced by these patients and consultants in collecting QoL data during the pandemic, especially in situations with limited availability of resources and also where the patients are not technologically advanced.Results: Due to the pandemic, we could not recruit a single new patient into the study. Complete QoL assessments were available in only two patients, and the disease progressed in five patients. QoL assessment was not possible in 19 of 31 enrolled patients. More than 44% of the enrolled patients had difficulty commuting to the hospital despite transport services to hospitals. Due to the risk of acquiring COVID19 infection during traveling to the hospital, follow-ups were affected.Conclusion: There should be increased support for novel technologies that can successfully capture and transfer patients’ QoL data to the treating consultant.Keywords: pandemic, coronavirus, quality of life, COVID 19

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