Open AccessThe impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the professional activities and health of ophthalmologists in the Russian Federation. Results of an online survey
Author(s) -
Е. В. Кечин,
А. В. Дога,
Н. С. Ходжаев,
Х. Д. Тонаева,
И. С. Ткаченко
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
oftalʹmohirurgiâ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2312-4970
pISSN - 0235-4160
DOI - 10.25276/0235-4160-2021-2-66-78
Subject(s) - pandemic , russian federation , covid-19 , medicine , health care , telemedicine , computer assisted web interviewing , family medicine , work (physics) , political science , geography , disease , mechanical engineering , engineering , pathology , marketing , regional science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , business
Purpose. To study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the professional activities and health of ophthalmologists in the Russian Federation.Material and methods. The All-Russian online survey of ophthalmologists «Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the professional activity, lifestyle and health of ophthalmologists in the Russian Federation» was conducted. The results are presented in % of those respondents who are engaged in the relevant activity.Results. The survey involved 582 ophthalmologists from various regions of Russia. In April 2020 (in the first month of non-working days throughout the Russian Federation), the work load as a whole became less than usual for 54.8% of respondents. In addition, 18.4% of respondents stated that they did not work during the entire April 2020. The number of face-to-face consultations decreased in 74.3% of the surveyed ophthalmologists. The number of telemedicine consultations decreased in 27.0% of respondents, and increased in 34.1%. The number of emergency and urgent surgery decreased in 25.0% of respondents, and increased in 23.2%. The number of planned surgery decreased in 80.4% of respondents. 23.9% of respondents began to provide medical care in an additional and new profile of ophthalmological care (which they do not usually do).Salaries in April 2020 decreased for 66.7% of respondents, in August 2020 – in 41.4% of respondents.Ophthalmologists have become more engaged in the study of professional literature on ophthalmology and coronavirus, as well as writing scientific products (articles, patents, etc.), preparing reports and presenting them.In 57.8% of cases of infection of ophthalmologists with COVID-19 was associated with their professional activities and 37.3% of infection with an ophthalmic patient. In 83.3% of cases, ophthalmologists were treated for COVID-19 on an outpatient, in 16.7% of cases – in an inpatient. In 66.7% of cases the health status of ophthalmologists after the coronavirus infection COVID-19 was poor.Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic had negative impact on the professional activity and health of ophthalmologists in the Russian Federation.Key words: pandemic, COVID-19, new coronavirus infection, ophthalmologists.