COVID-19 exposure and health status of orthopedic residents: A survey study

Year 2022, Volume: 39 Issue: 2, 337 - 341, 18.03.2022

Batuhan Gencer Ahmet Çulcu Özgür Doğan

Abstract

Objectives:
Considering the increased patient burden and disruptions in the healthcare system, orthopedic residents are affected both psychologically and physically while working both in the management of trauma patients and caring for COVID-19 patients. Our objective was to investigate the virus exposure and health status of orthopedic residents during the pandemic and to review the measures that can be taken.
Methods:
A survey consisting of 15 questions was organized and circulated through e-mail groups and social media platforms in order to evaluate the health status of residents. Demographic data, co-morbidities, whether they had a COVID-19 infection, time they work in orthopedics-related and COVID-related units, whether there was infection among their colleagues or family members and the infected patient care were questioned.
Results:
A total of 136 residents completed the survey, of which 41 (30.1%) were infected. A significant difference was found between COVID-infected and COVID-free residents in terms of comorbidities (p=0.026). Residents with infection among their colleagues had lower infection rates (p<0.001). No significant difference was found between groups in terms of the working periods in orthopedics-related or COVID-related units (p>0.05 for each).


Conclusions:
With this study, it was reported for the first time that approximately one third of orthopedic residents were infected in our country, regardless of the units they work. The fact that residents with infected colleagues have lower infection rates, demonstrates the importance of self-awareness and protective behaviors. During the pandemic, all healthcare professionals should pay maximum attention for simple measures, like practicing protective behaviors and use of personal protective equipment.

Keywords

COVID-19 Pandemic, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Protective Measures, Resident, Survey

References

• [1] Turgut A, Arlı H, Altundağ Ü, Hancıoğlu S, Egeli E, Kalenderer Ö. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the fracture demographics: Data from a tertiary care hospital in Turkey. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 2020;54(4):355-63.
• [2] Courtemanche C, Garuccio J, Le A, Pinkston J, Yelowitz A. Strong Social Distancing Measures In The United States Reduced The COVID-19 Growth Rate. Health Aff (Millwood) 2020;39(7):1237-46.
• [3] Zhou J, Ghose B, Wang R, Wu R, Li Z, Huang R, et al. Health Perceptions and Misconceptions Regarding COVID-19 in China: Online Survey Study. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(11):e21099.
• [4] Zhu N, Zhang D, Wang W, Li X, Yang B, Song J, et al. A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(8):727-33.
• [5] Castioni D, Galasso O, Rava A, Massè A, Gasparini G, Mercurio M. Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed the Daily Practices and Psychological State of Orthopaedic Residents? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2021. Epub ahead of print.
• [6] Dantas ESO, Araújo Filho JD, Silva GWDS, Silveira MYM, Dantas MNP, Meira KC. Factors associated with anxiety in multiprofessional health care residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rev Bras Enferm. 2021;74Suppl1(Suppl1):e20200961.
• [7] Chatterji G, Patel Y, Jain V, Geevarughese NM, Haq RU. Impact of COVID-19 on Orthopaedic Care and Practice: A Rapid Review. Indian J Orthop. 2021:1-14.
• [8] Gupta T, Nazif TM, Vahl TP, Ahmad H, Bortnick AE, Feit F, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on interventional cardiology fellowship training in the New York metropolitan area: A perspective from the United States epicenter. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2021;97(2):201-5.
• [9] Boekhorst F, Khattak H, Topcu EG, Horala A, Gonçalves Henriques M. The influence of the COVID-19 outbreak on European trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology: A survey of the impact on training and trainee. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2021;261:52-8.
• [10] Guetter CR, Nosanov LB, Henry MCW, Oropallo A. The impact of COVID-19 on women surgeons and trainees: The transformation of medical students, surgical residents, and attending surgeons. Am J Surg. 2021:S0002-9610(21)00232-4.
• [11] Alhasan AS, Alahmadi SM, Altayeb YA, Daqqaq TS. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Training and Well-Being in Radiology Residency: A National Survey of Diagnostic Radiology Trainees in Saudi Arabia. Acad Radiol. 2021:S1076-6332(21)00139-2.
• [12] Christian RJ, VanSandt M. Using Dynamic Virtual Microscopy to Train Pathology Residents During the Pandemic: Perspectives on Pathology Education in the Age of COVID-19. Acad Pathol. 2021;8:23742895211006819.
• [13] Chen X, Chen H. Differences in Preventive Behaviors of COVID-19 between Urban and Rural Residents: Lessons Learned from A Cross-Sectional Study in China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(12):4437.
• [14] Srivastav AK, Saini V, Kukkar V, Rathore MS, Khadayat S, Samuel AJ. Safeguarding from COVID-19: educating healthcare workers about the available protective equipment. Z Gesundh Wiss. 2021:1-5. Epub ahead of print.
• [15] Hirschmann MT, Hart A, Henckel J, Sadoghi P, Seil R, Mouton C. COVID-19 coronavirus: recommended personal protective equipment for the orthopaedic and trauma surgeon. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2020;28(6):1690-8.
• [16] Du P, Li D, Wang A, Shen S, Ma Z, Li X. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Severity and Death in COVID-19 Patients. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2021;2021:6660930.
• [17] Abdulla F, Nain Z, Karimuzzaman M, Hossain MM, Rahman A. A Non-Linear Biostatistical Graphical Modeling of Preventive Actions and Healthcare Factors in Controlling COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(9):4491.
• [18] Alqahtani JS, Oyelade T, Aldhahir AM, Alghamdi SM, Almehmadi M, Alqahtani AS, et al. Prevalence, Severity and Mortality associated with COPD and Smoking in patients with COVID-19: A Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 202011;15(5):e0233147.
• [19] Takeuchi T, Kitamura T, Hirayama A, Katayama Y, Shimazu T, Sobue T. Characteristics of patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the first surge versus the second surge of infections in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Glob Health Med. 2021;3(2):82-9.
• [20] Martín U, Bacigalupe A, Jiménez Carrillo M. COVID-19 y género: certezas e incertidumbres en la monitori-zación de la pandemia [COVID-19 and gender: certainties and uncertainties in monitoring the pandemic.]. Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2021;95:e202104066. Spanish.
• [21] Takeuchi T, Imanaka T, Katayama Y, Kitamura T, Sobue T, Shimazu T. Profile of Patients with Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Osaka Prefecture, Japan: A Population-Based Descriptive Study. J Clin Med. 2020;9(9):2925.
• [22] Suleyman G, Fadel RA, Malette KM, Hammond C, Abdulla H, Entz A, et al. Clinical Characteristics and Morbidity Associated With Coronavirus Disease 2019 in a Series of Patients in Metropolitan Detroit. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(6):e2012270.