PATIENT PERCEPTION OF ONCOLOGY CARE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY FROM MOROCCO

Background:The first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Morocco was detected in Casablanca on March 2, 2020 since then, our country has implemented restrictions on population movement to slow the spread of the virus. The management of cancers must be adapted to this context.

Materials and methods:All patients who are treated At the Radio-Oncology Unit of the Sheikh Khalifa Hospital at Casablanca were included in this prospective observational study for a questionnaire-based survey to evaluate the worries and perceptions of patients about changes and delays in their treatments during covid-19 Pandemic

Results:Total of 53 cancer patients participated in this study. The majority of patients possess adequate knowledge and practice appropriate preventive actions. However, they expressed their negative emotions and worries about the impact of changing their treatment on the prognosis of the disease and they considered cancer more deadly than covid-19.

Conclusion:The present study shows the need to look for other solutions that ensure continuity of care

such as telemedicine, while reducing exposure for health care workers and other patients without affecting the prognosis of their disease.