Key questions present in data collection form
| REDCap sheet | Key questions | REDCap field and notes |
| Baseline information | Age of patient (in years) | Patient’s age in years |
| Does the patient have a tumour? | Select yes if the patient has a tumour, no otherwise | |
| Sex | Patient sex | |
| Weight (kg) | The first weight of the patient taken during admission | |
| ASA | ASA at time of surgery Full definitions are available online (https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-guidelines/asa-physical-status-classification-system) | |
| Diagnostic group/subgroup of tumour | Select the type of tumour present in the patient. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia—cancer of white blood cells Hodgkin lymphoma; full definitions are available online (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hodgkins-lymphoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20352646) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma; full definitions are available online (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/) Neuroblastoma—cancer of immature nerve cells Wilms tumour; full definitions are available online (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wilms-tumor/symptoms-causes/syc-20352655#:~:text=Wilms' tumour is a rare,less common after age 5) Rhabdomyosarcoma; full definitions are available online (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rhabdomyosarcoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20390962) Osteosarcoma—a type of bone cancer Ewings sarcoma; full definitions are available online (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ewing-sarcoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20351071) Retinoblastoma—a type of cancer that develops in the retina of the eye Glioma—a tumour that develops in the central nervous system Medulloblastoma—a malignant tumour that starts in the cerebellum | |
| Grade of glioma | If glioma is chosen, you will be asked to select one of the following: Low grade (WHO grade I/II) (from astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) High grade (WHO grade III/IV) (malignant tumours that develop from astrocytes) Unknown Full definitions are available online (https://cancerqld.blob.core.windows.net/content/docs/childhood-cancer-staging-for-population-registries.pdf)37 | |
| Staging | Depending on the type of tumour selected, a staging system will appear. Full definitions of each stage are available online (https://cancerqld.blob.core.windows.net/content/docs/childhood-cancer-staging-for-population-registries.pdf)37 | |
| Date of diagnosis | The date at which the patient was clinically diagnosed to have the tumour type selected earlier The date of diagnosis can precede the start date for this study. | |
| What was the initial multi-disciplinary team (MDT)/tumour board decision for managing this tumour? | The initial treatment plan for the patient; it can involve a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunological therapy and surgery. Please select no anticancer therapy only if the other four options are not selected. | |
| Date of treatment decision by the tumour board | Date at which the initial treatment plan for the patient was made | |
| Would this decision have been different prior to the COVID-19 pandemic? | If the date at which the initial treatment plan for the patient was made prior to the pandemic, please select no. Otherwise, please review hospital protocol and contact senior clinicians to assess if the treatment plan would have been different for the patient if the initial treatment plan were made prior to start of the pandemic. | |
| What would the pre-COVID-19 decision for managing this tumour be? | Please select the treatment plan for this patient that would have been opted for prior to COVID-19. It can involve a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunological therapy, and surgery. Please select no anticancer therapy only if the other four options are not selected. | |
| Chemotherapy | Did the patient have chemotherapy during the study window? | Please select yes if the patient had chemotherapy between 12 March 2020 and 12 December 2020 inclusive. This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with chemotherapy. |
| Did the patient have chemotherapy during the 90-day follow-up period? | Please select yes if the patient had chemotherapy within 90 days of their first presentation to the hospital within the study period (between 12 March 2020 and 12 December 2020). This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with chemotherapy. | |
| Is there still a plan for chemotherapy treatment? | Please select yes if chemotherapy is planned for this patient. This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with chemotherapy. | |
| Were there any changes to the chemotherapy treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic? | Please select ‘No change to chemotherapy care because of COVID-19’ if there were no changes made to chemotherapy plans due to COVID-19 (including if there were changes made due to other non-COVID-19-related issues). Otherwise, select the correct options from the choice provided. | |
| What were the reasons for the change(s) to the treatment? | Please select as many reasons as appropriate that explain the change(s) to chemotherapy treatment. | |
| Radiotherapy | Did the patient have radiotherapy during the study window? | Please select yes if the patient had radiotherapy between 12 March 2020 and 12 December 2020. This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with radiotherapy. |
| Did the patient have radiotherapy during the 90-day follow-up period? | Please select yes if the patient had radiotherapy within 90 days of their first presentation to the hospital within the study period (between 12 March 2020 and 12 December 2020). This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with radiotherapy. | |
| Is there still a plan for radiotherapy treatment? | Please select yes if radiotherapy is planned for this patient. This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with radiotherapy. | |
| Were there any changes to the radiotherapy treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic? | Please select ‘No change to radiotherapy care because of COVID-19’ if there were no changes made to radiotherapy plans due to COVID-19 (including if there were changes made due to other non-COVID-19-related issues). Otherwise, select the correct options from the choices provided. | |
| What were the reasons for the change(s) to the treatment? | Please select as many reasons as appropriate that explain the change(s) to radiotherapy treatment. | |
| What was the radiation field? | Whole brain and spinal cord radiation therapy (craniospinal radiation): radiation given to the whole brain and spinal cord. Focal (brain): radiation not given to the whole brain and spine cord Local: radiation directed towards a specific site Wide-field: radiation that is not directed towards a specific single site | |
| Radiotherapy approach | Please select either photon or proton beam therapy. You can find more information about either therapy online (https://breast360.org/topic/2015/01/01/radiation-therapy-photons-vs-protons/). | |
| Immunological therapy | Did the patient have immunotherapy during the study window? | Please select yes if the patient had immunological therapy between 12 March 2020 and 12 December 2020. This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with immunological therapy. |
| Did the patient have immunotherapy during the 90-day follow-up period? | Please select yes if the patient had immunological therapy within 90 days of their first presentation to the hospital within the study period (between 12 March 2020 and 12 December 2020). This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with immunological therapy. | |
| Is there still a plan for immunotherapy treatment? | Please select yes if immunological therapy is planned for this patient. This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with immunological therapy. | |
| Were there any changes to the immunotherapy treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic? | Please select ‘No change to immunotherapy care because of COVID-19’ if there were no changes made to immunological therapy plans due to COVID-19 (including if there were changes made due to other non-COVID-19-related issues). Otherwise, select the correct options from the choices provided. | |
| What were the reasons for the change(s) to the treatment? | Please select as many reasons as appropriate that explain the change(s) to immunological therapy treatment. | |
| Surgery | Did the patient have surgery during the study window? | Please select yes if the patient had surgery between 12 March 2020 and 12 December 2020. This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with surgery. This includes biopsies but does not include the insertion of central venous catheters. |
| Did the patient have surgery during the 90-day follow-up period? | Please select yes if the patient had surgery within 90 days of their first presentation to the hospital within the study period (between 12 March 2020 and 12 December 2020). This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with surgery. | |
| Date of surgery | Date at which patient had their first surgery for their tumour within the study period (between 12 March 2020 and 12 December 2020). | |
| Is there still a plan for surgical treatment? | Please select yes if surgery is planned for this patient. This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with surgery. | |
| Were there any changes to the surgical treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic? | Please select ‘No change to operative care because of COVID-19’ if there were no changes made to surgical plans due to COVID-19 (including if there were changes made due to other non-COVID-19-related issues). Otherwise, select the correct options from the choices provided. | |
| What were the reasons for the change(s) to the treatment? | Please select as many reasons as appropriate that explain the change(s) to surgical treatment. | |
| What type of hospital was the operation performed in? | Designated COVID-19-free ‘cold’ hospital Designated COVID-19-treatment ‘hot’ hospital: information can be found online (https://theconversation.com/hot-and-cold-zones-life-and-death-in-a-montreal-covid-19-hospital-139633) Undesignated hospital with emergency department Undesignated hospital type without emergency department | |
| Time from admission to operation (preoperative delay) | This is the time for hospital admission to start of surgery in theatre. | |
| Urgency of surgery | Immediate—life, limb or organ-saving intervention—within minutes of decision to operate Urgent—within hours of decision to operate Expedited—patient requiring early treatment but no immediate threat to life, limb or organ—within days of decision to operate Elective—intervention planned or booked in advance of routine admission to hospital (full definitions available onlline at https://www.ncepod.org.uk/classification.html) | |
| No anticancer treatment | Did the patient or their family choose to avoid treatment during the pandemic before the initial MDT (tumour board) meeting? | Please select yes if the patient or their family choose to not take anti-cancer therapy before a decision of whether to treat with anti-cancer therapy had been made. |
| Did the patient have palliative treatment during the study window? | Please select yes if the patient had palliative treatment between the 12th of March 2020 and the 12th of December 2020. This is regardless of if there was an initial plan to treat with anti-cancer therapy | |
| Were there any changes to the immunotherapy treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic? | Please select ‘No change to palliative care because of COVID-19’ if there were no changes made to palliative treatment plans due to COVID-19 (including if there were changes made due to other non-COVID-19-related issues). Otherwise select the correct options from the choices provided. | |
| What were the reasons for the change(s) to the treatment? | Please select as many reasons as appropriate that explain the change(s) to palliative treatment. | |
| Outcomes | Complications within 30 days from their first anticancer treatment post-11 March 2020? | Please select ‘No complication’ if there were no complications due to the anti-cancer treatment. Otherwise select the correct options from the choices provided. |
| Outcomes at 30-day follow-up? | Please select whether the patient is dead or alive. Please use the descriptors in the answers below to guide you in selecting the answer: Died—did not receive anticancer treatment Died—during anticancer treatment Died—on days 0–7 after anticancer treatment Died—on days 8–30 after anticancer treatment Alive—remains admitted in hospital Alive—transferred to another hospital Alive—discharged to a rehabilitation centre Alive—discharged home | |
| Mortality at 90-day follow-up? | Please select whether the patient is dead or alive. | |
| Mortality at 12-month follow-up? | Please select whether the patient is dead or alive. |
ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; REDCap, Research Electronic Data Capture.