Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 disrupted cancer care services in Ireland, from screening and diagnostics to treatments, possibly impacting physical health outcomes owing to delayed diagnosis and treatment changes. This study explores how cancer care and patients in Ireland were affected by COVID-19 from the perspective of Irish policy, clinical and patient stakeholders using a qualitative approach. The findings could inform future strategic and implementation plans for the current challenges faced and lessons learned will be identified.
METHODS: A thematic analysis of a multi-stakeholder online workshop representing policy and clinical and patient stakeholders was completed.
RESULTS: The pandemic exasperated prior challenges including under-resourced services, access barriers, staff shortages and lack of interoperability in information technology (IT) systems. Overall, the measures implemented protected cancer patients from COVID-19; however, some groups were more vulnerable, with apparent demographic and socio-economic inequalities. Many hard-fought gains from the previous decade, in terms of cancer screening, diagnosis and survivorship, were eroded. As we transition to the peri-COVID-19 period, staff burnout, poor IT infrastructure and lack of good quality data must be addressed to minimise further disruptions and restore and enhance cancer services.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, innovations and measures adopted during the pandemic protected cancer patients; however, some groups were particularly vulnerable, and inequalities may have widened further. Only proven effective and efficient innovations introduced during the pandemic should be retained and enhanced. Good quality data is needed to inform such decisions when choosing amongst them.
METHODS: A thematic analysis of a multi-stakeholder online workshop representing policy and clinical and patient stakeholders was completed.
RESULTS: The pandemic exasperated prior challenges including under-resourced services, access barriers, staff shortages and lack of interoperability in information technology (IT) systems. Overall, the measures implemented protected cancer patients from COVID-19; however, some groups were more vulnerable, with apparent demographic and socio-economic inequalities. Many hard-fought gains from the previous decade, in terms of cancer screening, diagnosis and survivorship, were eroded. As we transition to the peri-COVID-19 period, staff burnout, poor IT infrastructure and lack of good quality data must be addressed to minimise further disruptions and restore and enhance cancer services.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, innovations and measures adopted during the pandemic protected cancer patients; however, some groups were particularly vulnerable, and inequalities may have widened further. Only proven effective and efficient innovations introduced during the pandemic should be retained and enhanced. Good quality data is needed to inform such decisions when choosing amongst them.
摘要：
目标：COVID-19破坏了爱尔兰的癌症护理服务，从筛查和诊断到治疗，可能由于延迟诊断和治疗改变而影响身体健康结果。这项研究从爱尔兰政策的角度探讨了爱尔兰的癌症护理和患者如何受到COVID-19的影响，临床和患者利益相关者使用定性方法。调查结果可以为未来的战略和实施计划提供信息，以应对当前面临的挑战，并确定经验教训。
方法：完成了对代表政策、临床和患者利益相关方的多利益相关方在线研讨会的专题分析。
结果：大流行加剧了先前的挑战，包括资源不足的服务，访问障碍,人员短缺，信息技术(IT)系统缺乏互操作性。总的来说,实施的措施保护了癌症患者免受COVID-19的侵害；然而，一些群体更脆弱，明显的人口和社会经济不平等。过去十年取得了许多艰苦的成就，在癌症筛查方面，诊断和生存，被侵蚀了。当我们过渡到COVID-19周期时，员工倦怠,必须解决糟糕的IT基础设施和缺乏高质量数据的问题，以尽量减少进一步的中断，恢复和加强癌症服务。
结论：总体而言，大流行期间采取的创新和措施保护了癌症患者；然而，一些群体特别脆弱，不平等可能进一步扩大。只有在大流行期间引入的经证明有效和高效的创新才应保留和加强。在选择这些决策时，需要高质量的数据来告知这些决策。
方法：完成了对代表政策、临床和患者利益相关方的多利益相关方在线研讨会的专题分析。
结果：大流行加剧了先前的挑战，包括资源不足的服务，访问障碍,人员短缺，信息技术(IT)系统缺乏互操作性。总的来说,实施的措施保护了癌症患者免受COVID-19的侵害；然而，一些群体更脆弱，明显的人口和社会经济不平等。过去十年取得了许多艰苦的成就，在癌症筛查方面，诊断和生存，被侵蚀了。当我们过渡到COVID-19周期时，员工倦怠,必须解决糟糕的IT基础设施和缺乏高质量数据的问题，以尽量减少进一步的中断，恢复和加强癌症服务。
结论：总体而言，大流行期间采取的创新和措施保护了癌症患者；然而，一些群体特别脆弱，不平等可能进一步扩大。只有在大流行期间引入的经证明有效和高效的创新才应保留和加强。在选择这些决策时，需要高质量的数据来告知这些决策。
