Perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting services post-COVID-19 lockdown

Purpose: To assess the perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting elective out-patient (OP) and operating (OT) services after relaxation of lockdown for COVID-19. Methods: An online survey, containing 31 questions, was conducted among medical doctors us...

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Main Authors: V G Madanagopalan, M R Sriram Gopal, Sabyasachi Sengupta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2020;volume=68;issue=7;spage=1401;epage=1406;aulast=Madanagopalan
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author V G Madanagopalan
M R Sriram Gopal
Sabyasachi Sengupta
author_facet V G Madanagopalan
M R Sriram Gopal
Sabyasachi Sengupta
author_sort V G Madanagopalan
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: To assess the perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting elective out-patient (OP) and operating (OT) services after relaxation of lockdown for COVID-19. Methods: An online survey, containing 31 questions, was conducted among medical doctors using a secure Google forms link. The survey was open for 48 hours from 16th-18th April 2020. Results: Responses were received from 556 physicians (including 266 ophthalmologists). About a third (n = 205) wanted to start OP immediately after lockdown. In OP, mask of any kind for patient (60.8%), 3-ply for assistants (52.7%) and N95 for doctors (72.7%) were most common preferences. In OP, 31.5% and 46.6% felt full PPE and gloves alone were sufficient respectively. Ophthalmologists were more likely to start immediately after lockdown compared to other specialists (P = 0.004). Among 299 surgeons, an almost equal number (27%) wanted to start routine OT services immediately and 2 weeks post lockdown. A large majority (76.9%) would mandate COVID-19 tests before elective surgeries. In OT, 34.1% wanted N95 for surgical team and 3-ply for patient, 23.4% wanted 3-ply masks for everyone. 40.5% felt additional personal protective equipment (PPE) is not required and 33.1% felt that full PPE is required for everyone in OT. Ophthalmic surgeons preferred 3-ply masks and were less inclined to use full PPE (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Perspectives of doctors vary, especially with regarding to timing of restarting services and precautions to be taken in the OT. Ophthalmologists may tend to err on the side of taking lesser stringent precautions when restarting services post lockdown.
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spelling doaj.art-549eea6fe42d491f8ea7ab9158200c072022-12-21T23:35:37ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Ophthalmology0301-47381998-36892020-01-016871401140610.4103/ijo.IJO_1221_20Perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting services post-COVID-19 lockdownV G MadanagopalanM R Sriram GopalSabyasachi SenguptaPurpose: To assess the perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting elective out-patient (OP) and operating (OT) services after relaxation of lockdown for COVID-19. Methods: An online survey, containing 31 questions, was conducted among medical doctors using a secure Google forms link. The survey was open for 48 hours from 16th-18th April 2020. Results: Responses were received from 556 physicians (including 266 ophthalmologists). About a third (n = 205) wanted to start OP immediately after lockdown. In OP, mask of any kind for patient (60.8%), 3-ply for assistants (52.7%) and N95 for doctors (72.7%) were most common preferences. In OP, 31.5% and 46.6% felt full PPE and gloves alone were sufficient respectively. Ophthalmologists were more likely to start immediately after lockdown compared to other specialists (P = 0.004). Among 299 surgeons, an almost equal number (27%) wanted to start routine OT services immediately and 2 weeks post lockdown. A large majority (76.9%) would mandate COVID-19 tests before elective surgeries. In OT, 34.1% wanted N95 for surgical team and 3-ply for patient, 23.4% wanted 3-ply masks for everyone. 40.5% felt additional personal protective equipment (PPE) is not required and 33.1% felt that full PPE is required for everyone in OT. Ophthalmic surgeons preferred 3-ply masks and were less inclined to use full PPE (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Perspectives of doctors vary, especially with regarding to timing of restarting services and precautions to be taken in the OT. Ophthalmologists may tend to err on the side of taking lesser stringent precautions when restarting services post lockdown.http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2020;volume=68;issue=7;spage=1401;epage=1406;aulast=Madanagopalancorona viruscovid-19elective surgeryphysician perspectivesrestarting servicessurvey
spellingShingle V G Madanagopalan
M R Sriram Gopal
Sabyasachi Sengupta
Perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting services post-COVID-19 lockdown
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
corona virus
covid-19
elective surgery
physician perspectives
restarting services
survey
title Perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting services post-COVID-19 lockdown
title_full Perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting services post-COVID-19 lockdown
title_fullStr Perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting services post-COVID-19 lockdown
title_full_unstemmed Perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting services post-COVID-19 lockdown
title_short Perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting services post-COVID-19 lockdown
title_sort perspectives of physicians in general and ophthalmologists in particular about restarting services post covid 19 lockdown
topic corona virus
covid-19
elective surgery
physician perspectives
restarting services
survey
url http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2020;volume=68;issue=7;spage=1401;epage=1406;aulast=Madanagopalan
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