Open AccessRadiation oncology practice during COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries
Author(s) -
Fawzi Abuhijla,
Ramiz Abu-Hijlih,
Issa Mohamad
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
world journal of clinical cases
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.368
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2307-8960
DOI - 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i25.7292
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation oncology , pandemic , modalities , developing country , covid-19 , radiation therapy , cornerstone , family medicine , intensive care medicine , medical physics , disease , economic growth , infectious disease (medical specialty) , art , social science , sociology , economics , visual arts
Radiation therapy (RT) is considered one of the cornerstone modalities of treatment for different cancer types. The preparation and delivery of RT requires a number of staff members from different disciplines within the radiation oncology department. Since the emergence of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, RT, similar to other cancer care modalities, has been adapted to minimize patient and staff exposure without compromising the oncological outcomes. This was reflected in the dramatic practice changes that occurred in the past year to address the lockdown restrictions and fulfill the infection control requirements. RT practices differ across regions based on financial and training levels, and developing countries with limited resources have struggled to maintain radiation treatment services at a level equivalent to that in developed countries while following pandemic control guidelines. The response during the COVID-19 pandemic varied between developing countries according to the infection rate and RT technological capabilities. In this editorial, we review recently published articles addressing radiotherapy practice reports during the COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries.