The Effect of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Breast Cancer Teamwork: A Multicentric Survey.

Vanni, Gianluca; Materazzo, Marco; Santori, Francesca; Pellicciaro, Marco; Costesta, Maria; Orsaria, Paolo; Cattadori, Francesca; Pistolese, Chiara Adriana; Perretta, Tommaso; Chiocchi, Marcello; Meucci, Rosaria; Lamacchia, Feliciana; Assogna, Massimo; Caspi, Jonathan; Granai, Alessandra Vittoria; DE Majo, Adriano; Chiaravalloti, Agostino; D'Angelillo, Maria Rolando; Barbarino, Rosaria; Ingallinella, Sara; Morando, Ljuba; Dalli, Stefania; Portarena, Ilaria; Altomare, Vittorio; Tazzioli, Giovanni; Buonomo, Oreste Claudio

BACKGROUND/AIM Despite the large amount of clinical data available of Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19), not many studies have been conducted about the psychological toll on Health Care Workers (HCWs). PATIENTS AND METHODS In this multicentric descriptive study, surveys were distributed among 4 different Breast Cancer Centers (BCC). BCCs were distinguished according to COVID-19 tertiary care hospital (COVID/No-COVID) and district prevalence (DP) (High vs. Low). DASS-21 score, PSS score and demographic data (age, sex, work) were evaluated. RESULTS A total of 51 HCWs were analyzed in the study. Age, work and sex did not demonstrate statistically significant values. Statistically significant distribution was found between DASS-21-stress score and COVID/No-COVID (p=0.043). No difference was found in the remaining DASS-21 and PSS scores, dividing the HCWs according to COVID-19-hospital and DP. CONCLUSION Working in a COVID-19-hospital represents a factor that negatively affects psychosocial well-being. However, DP seems not to affect the psychosocial well-being of BCC HCWs. During the outbreak, psychological support for low risk HCWs should be provided regardless DP.