Home Se-Cure: A Home Care Service for Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tania Buttiron Webber, Silvia Giuliano, Carlotta Patrone, Irene Maria Briata, Maria Franconeri, Francesca Marceca, Monica Magnani, Fortuna Paciolla, Nicoletta Provinciali, Carlotta Defferrari, Matteo Clavarezza, Mauro D’Amico, Alberto Gozza, Monica Boitano, Mattia Alessio-Mazzola, Isabella Cevasco and Andrea DeCensi
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Tania Buttiron Webber: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Silvia Giuliano: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Carlotta Patrone: Office Innovation, Development and Lean Application, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Irene Maria Briata: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Maria Franconeri: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Francesca Marceca: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Monica Magnani: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Fortuna Paciolla: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Nicoletta Provinciali: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Carlotta Defferrari: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Matteo Clavarezza: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Mauro D’Amico: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Alberto Gozza: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Monica Boitano: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Mattia Alessio-Mazzola: Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Isabella Cevasco: Healthcare Professions Structure, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy
Andrea DeCensi: Medical Oncology, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128 Genoa, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-8

Abstract: Cancer patients are exposed to a greater risk of COVID-19 infection, resulting in treatment delays and unnecessary hospitalizations. International authorities have suggested reducing visits to hospitals and guarantee continuity of care. We developed a home care project called Home Se-Cure (HSC) to guarantee the continuity of oral, intramuscular, and subcutaneous cancer therapy during COVID-19. The Home Se-Cure project included cancer patients living near Galliera Hospital. Patients received home visits by registered nurses (RNs), whoperformed blood tests and delivered cancer therapies. Patients were instructed to take drugs after blood test results and therapy confirmation by oncologists. Sixty-six patients decided to participate and 38 declined the service. A customer satisfaction questionnaire was administered to a subgroup of patients participating in the project. The most prevalent disease in the HSC group was prostate cancer. The mean age of the patients in HSC was 78.4 years and 68.9 in the decliner group. The majority of the HSC participants appreciated the project because they could stay at home (71%) and reduce the risk of COVID-19 contagion (67.7%). Compared to decliners, the time the study group saved was 2033 hours. HSC guaranteed the continuity of care during the COVID-19 pandemic by reducing the number of patients in the hospital and avoiding crowds in the waiting room.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; SARS-CoV-2; cancer patients; home care service; nursing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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