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Singh VK, Uppal S, Manas R, Bhattacharya S. National Academy of Burns India (NABI) online tutorials: Pursuit of excellence in burns education. Burns 2024:S0305-4179(24)00227-4. [PMID: 39322502 DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2024.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sudden halt in the academic activities of many medical professionals including burns and plastic surgery. Worldwide, this led to many societies switching over to various virtual platforms like Google Meet and Zoom for teaching and training. In India, as the other plastic surgery societies started their educational webinars, the National Academy of Burns India (NABI) also geared up for its web journey for imparting burn education to doctors and the general population. METHODOLOGY Webinars were conducted in four series - acute burn care, post-burn reconstructions, video demonstrations of burn procedures, and research in burns. The first series included a specialist from an allied department. To reach the public and non-medical population, the burn tutorials for general awareness were live-streamed on social media, and the teaching was done in the form of a panel discussion between the speakers and moderators. RESULTS A total of 54 webinars including 29 for professionals and 25 for the public were conducted between October 2020 to December 2023 in four series. The participation of professionals on the virtual platform was comparable to a burns conference and an extremely encouraging response was received to the NABI tutorials conducted on social media for the public. CONCLUSION NABI webinars showed that education in burns is possible on a virtual platform under special circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic and can be used as an adjunct to regular teaching and training. The public awareness webinars also served as readily available resource material for the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veena Kumari Singh
- Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India.
| | - Sanjeev Uppal
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, India.
| | - Raj Manas
- Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
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Alzubaidi SJ, Khurana A, Sill A, Knuttinen JMG, Kriegshauser S, Naidu S, Patel I, Oklu R. Establishing a telemedicine program for interventional radiology: a study of patient opinion and experience. Diagn Interv Radiol 2022; 28:603-608. [PMID: 36550761 PMCID: PMC9885727 DOI: 10.5152/dir.2022.21837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare officials to implement new policies, such as the use of virtual consultations over office-based medical appointments, to reduce the transmission of the virus. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively compare patients' experiences with virtual outpatient telemedicine encounters at a single academic institution in Interventional Radiology (IR) and in-person visits during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS The TeleENT Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Medical Communication Competence Scale (MCCS) were used to survey patients' satisfaction with both in-person and virtual office visits. RESULTS Ninety respondents (38 in-person, 52 virtual) acknowledged numerous benefits of virtual visits versus in-person office visits including reductions in time, cost, and potential viral transmission risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. No statistically significant difference was noted, based on a Likert scale from 1 to 7, between in-person and virtual visits (all p > 0.05) for scheduling related factors. No statistically significant difference was noted in any of the MCCS subscales between the two cohorts in regards to medical information communication (all p > 0.05). A majority of patients with virtual encounters (82.7%) stated that it was easy to obtain an electronic device for use during the telemedicine visit, and 73.1% of patients felt that setting up the telemedicine encounter was easy. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that telemedicine is an acceptable alternative to in-office appointments and could increase access to IR care outside of the traditional physician-patient interaction. With telemedicine visits, patients can communicate their concerns and obtain information from the doctor with noninferior communication compared to in-person visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadeer J Alzubaidi
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Arizona, US
| | | | - Andrew Sill
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Arizona, US
| | | | - Scott Kriegshauser
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Arizona, US
| | - Sailendra Naidu
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Arizona, US
| | - Indravadan Patel
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Arizona, US
| | - Rahmi Oklu
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Arizona, US
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Obed D, Salim M, Ammo T, Gildt MM, Krezdorn N, Vogt PM, Dastagir K. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures on plastic, reconstructive and hand surgery emergency presentations – A comparative retrospective study in a regional referral center in Germany. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022; 82:104650. [PMID: 36124314 PMCID: PMC9476368 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Methods Results Conclusions The COVID-19 lockdown caused a shift in surgical emergency case presentations. Increasing domestic and decreasing recreational and work injuries were noted. Middle-aged females were at high risk to sustain injuries during lockdown. Hand injuries showed consistent severity and hospital admission rates. Resource allocation remains crucial in future pandemic waves.
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de Souza Maciel Ferreira JE, Rocha de Oliveira L, Galvão Pereira K, Marques Frota N, Frota Cavalcante T, Santos Monte A, Lopes Chaves AF. Estratégias organizacionais no centro cirúrgico diante da pandemia de COVID 19: uma revisão integrativa. REVISTA CUIDARTE 2022. [DOI: 10.15649/cuidarte.2323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introdução: os sistemas de saúde foram desafiados a desenvolver estratégias organizacionais para a prestação de cuidados cirúrgicos. Objetivo: apresentar as estratégias dos serviços de saúde no que se refere às práticas de cuidados cirúrgicos em tempos de pandemia de COVID-19. Materiais e métodos: revisão integrativa, desenvolvida em seis etapas, cuja busca dos artigos ocorreu na Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde, SciELO, PubMed e ScienceDirect. Os descritores controlados em saúde adotados foram “Centros Cirúrgicos” e “Infecções por Coronavírus”, de acordo com os sistemas DeCS e MeSH Terms. Foram selecionados 60 artigos de 405 estudos encontrados. Resultados: as principais estratégias utilizadas pelos serviços de saúde foram: a suspensão e adiamento de cirurgias eletivas durante as ondas de contágio da doença; e a triagem cuidadosa dos pacientes para COVID-19 antes e após intervenções cirúrgicas. Discussão: a suspensão e o adiamento de cirurgias eletivas devem ser avaliados com cautela pela equipe de saúde, de forma individualizada, para cada paciente, visto que situações clínicas não urgentes podem agravar ao longo do tempo, aumentando as chances de morbimortalidade desses pacientes. Conclusão: a triagem dos pacientes e dos profissionais da saúde para COVID-19 são estratégias importantes para evitar a contaminação desses sujeitos. A suspensão e o adiamento de cirurgias eletivas, durante as ondas de contágio por COVID-19, são recomendados para aumentar a capacidade de leitos disponíveis para pacientes graves hospitalizados por essa doença. Essa recomendação também auxilia no remanejamento de profissionais desse setor para as unidades com a demanda de cuidados de saúde mais elevada.
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Yiasemidou M. The Impact of COVID-19 on Surgical Training: the Past, the Present and the Future. Indian J Surg 2022; 84:131-138. [PMID: 34149230 PMCID: PMC8197597 DOI: 10.1007/s12262-021-02964-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and infection control measures had an unavoidable impact on surgical services. During the first wave of the pandemic, elective surgery, endoscopy, and 'face-to-face' clinics were discontinued after recommendations from professional bodies. In addition, training courses, examinations, conferences, and training rotations were postponed or cancelled. Inadvertently, infection control and prevention measures, both within and outside hospitals, have caused a significant negative impact on training. At the same time, they have given space to new technologies, like telemedicine and platforms for webinars, to blossom. While the recovery phase is well underway in some parts of the world, most surgical services are not operating at full capacity. Unfortunately, some countries are still battling a second or third wave of the pandemic with severely negative consequences on surgical services. Several studies have looked into the impact of COVID-19 on surgical training. Here, an objective overview of studies from different parts of the world is presented. Also, evidence-based solutions are suggested for future surgical training interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Yiasemidou
- NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in General Surgery, Hull York Medical School, Hull, UK
- ST7 Colorectal Surgery, Bradford Teaching Hospitals, Bradford, UK
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Tripathy S, Mohapatra DP, Sahu RK, Mohsina S, Sharma RK, Khan S, Renu S, Singh CK, Nair SR, Koliath S, Pathan I. The Impact of “COVID-19” and “Webinar Pandemic” on Plastic Surgery Practice in Teaching Institutes and Resident Training—A Multicentric Perspective. Indian J Plast Surg 2022; 55:45-53. [PMID: 35444741 PMCID: PMC9015845 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1735425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction The study was carried out to quantify the changes induced by the pandemic in plastic surgery practice and training and to study the impact of the webinars on plastic surgery education from a residents’ perspective.
Methods In this multicentric study, the number and type of surgeries, cause of injuries, and their regional variation during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) period (February–September 2020) were compared with pre–COVID-19 time. An online survey on the impact of webinars was conducted for plastic surgery trainees across the country.
Results There was a significant reduction in total number of surgeries (p = 0.003). The procedures for hand (p = 0.156), faciomaxillary injuries (p = 0.25), and replantations (p = 0.46) were comparable; there was a significant reduction in combined orthopedic-plastic-surgical procedures (p = 0.009) during the pandemic. There was a significant reduction in road accidents (p = 0.007) and suicidal injuries (p = 0.002) and increase in assault (p = 0.03) and domestic accidents (p = 0.01) during the COVID-19 period.A usefulness score of >8 was given for the webinars by 68.7% residents. There was no significant difference in perception of utility when correlated with the academic program at their institutes (p = 0.109); 92% opined webinars should continue in post-COVID times.
Conclusion There was a drastic reduction in number of elective and emergency procedures during the COVID-19 time, negatively affecting resident training program. Majority of residents felt that webinars could prove a useful adjunct to training in formal training program in post-COVID-19 scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyaswarup Tripathy
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab, India
| | - Devi Prasad Mohapatra
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
| | - Ranjit Kumar Sahu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India
| | - Subair Mohsina
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab, India
| | - Ramesh Kumar Sharma
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab, India
| | - Subhendu Khan
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab, India
| | - Sharda Renu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab, India
| | - Chandra Kunwari Singh
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab, India
| | - Suraj R. Nair
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab, India
| | - Shijina Koliath
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
| | - Imran Pathan
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
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Plastic and reconstructive surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: impacts on healthcare workers, financing, and governance. Arch Plast Surg 2022; 49:127-129. [PMID: 35086322 PMCID: PMC8795646 DOI: 10.5999/aps.2021.00724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Lugli G, Ottaviani MM, Botta A, Ascione G, Bruschi A, Cagnazzo F, Zammarchi L, Romagnani P, Portaluri T. The Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Healthcare Provision in Italy to non-COVID Patients: a Systematic Review. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2022; 14:e2022012. [PMID: 35070219 PMCID: PMC8746940 DOI: 10.4084/mjhid.2022.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Italy has been one of the countries most affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and the regional healthcare system has had to quickly adapt its organization to meet the needs of infected patients. This has led to a drastic change in the routine management of non-communicable diseases with a potential long-term impact on patient health care. Therefore, we investigated the management of non-COVID-19 patients across all medical specialities in Italy. METHODS A PRISMA guideline-based systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, restricting the search to the main outbreak period in Italy (from February 20 to June 25 2020). We selected articles in English or Italian that detailed changes in the Italian hospital care for non-COVID-19 patients due to the pandemic. Our keywords included all medical specialities combined with our geographical focus (Italy) and COVID-19. RESULTS Of the 4643 potentially eligible studies identified by the search, 247 were included. A decrease in the management of emergencies in non-COVID patients was found together with an increase in mortality. Similarly, non-deferrable conditions met a tendency toward decreased diagnosis. All specialities have been affected by the re-organization of healthcare provision in the hub-and-spoke system and have benefited from telemedicine. CONCLUSIONS Our work highlights the changes in the Italian public healthcare system to tackle the developing health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of our review may be useful to analyse future directions for the healthcare system in the case of new pandemic scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Lugli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
| | - Matteo Maria Ottaviani
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
| | - Annarita Botta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
| | - Guido Ascione
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bruschi
- Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
| | - Federico Cagnazzo
- Department of Neuroradiology, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, Montpellier University Medical Center, 80, Avenue Augustin Fliche, Montpellier, France
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Disease, University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Romagnani
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio,” University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Tommaso Portaluri
- IN Srl, Udine, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
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The Development of Telemedicine and eHealth in Surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182211969. [PMID: 34831725 PMCID: PMC8619571 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has hampered healthcare systems worldwide, but some countries have found new opportunities and methods to combat it. In this study, we focused on the rapid growth of telemedicine during the pandemic around the world. We conducted a systematic literature review of all the articles published up to the present year, 2021, by following the requirements of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. The data extracted comprised eHealth and telemedicine in surgery globally, and independently in Europe, the United States, and Switzerland. This review explicitly included fifty-nine studies. Out of all the articles included, none of them found that telemedicine causes poor outcomes in patients. Telemedicine has created a new path in the world of healthcare, revolutionizing how healthcare is delivered to patients and developing alternative methods for clinicians.
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Chellamuthu A, Kumar JS, Ramesh BA. Impact of COVID -19 Pandemic on Plastic Surgery Practices in a Tertiary Care Set Up in Southern India. Niger J Clin Pract 2021; 24:1558-1564. [PMID: 34657026 DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_80_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has modified the way, plastic surgeons treat their patients. This article depicts how we as a plastic surgery department in a tertiary care setup handled the pandemic with an emphasis on infection control policy. Methods Data was collected from hospital records and quality assurance cell from March 21, 2020 to June 19, 2020 in terms of patient triaging, consultations, perioperative protocols, duty rosters, and academic activities. The changes on these with the impact of COVID-19 were studied with the same period of previous year. Results Outpatient clinics were closed and emergency consultations were reduced. Number of consultations reduced from 2591 to 75 and surgeries from 320 to 46 during the same period in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Though tele-consultations were helpful, the overall benefits were subpar. Emergency services continued with the guidelines of institute's infection control committee, such as area specific personal protective equipment, allotment of operating rooms, minimizing the crowd in operating room. There was some compromise in using accessories for microsurgical procedures. Duty rosters were designed to maintain uninterrupted services. Academic activities were continued with virtual platforms. Conclusion Adequate preparation of health care setup and nation-wide lockdown has helped to handle emergency cases and in reduction of trauma-surgeries respectively. Though there were obstacles for some patients in accessing health care, our institutional response made us to render maximum possible care. Advancements in virtual platform helped in consultations and academics. Delayed conservative approach was used in most cases at the expense of cosmetic compromise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiramie Chellamuthu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sri Ramachandra Nagar, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - J Sathish Kumar
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sri Ramachandra Nagar, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - B A Ramesh
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sri Ramachandra Nagar, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Chin BZ, Nashi N, Lin S, Yik K, Tan G, Kagda FH. Telemedicine use in orthopaedics: Experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Telemed Telecare 2021; 28:373-379. [PMID: 34541945 PMCID: PMC9111019 DOI: 10.1177/1357633x211041011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION With a recent resurgence of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases globally, an increasing number of healthcare systems are adopting telemedicine as an alternative method of healthcare delivery in a bid to decrease disease transmission. Continued care of orthopaedic patients in the outpatient setting during the coronavirus disease of 2019 era can prove challenging without a systematic workflow, adequate logistics, and careful patient selection for teleconsultation. The aim of this paper is to describe our single-centre experience with the application of telemedicine in our orthopaedic practice, and its effectiveness in maintaining outpatient follow-up of orthopaedic patients. METHODOLOGY We describe our centre's telemedicine model of care for orthopaedic patients on the outpatient follow-up - which includes workforce assembly, population health and target patients, logistics and communications, and overall workflow - with roles and responsibilities of involved people portrayed in detail. RESULTS Feedback from both patients and orthopaedic surgeons reflected high satisfaction rates with care provided, noting minimal communication and clinical barriers compared to face-to-face consultations. Whilst not without limitations, our protocol allowed for rapid adoption of telemedicine in line with a national-wide initiative to digitize healthcare. DISCUSSION The implementation of teleconsultation services at our orthopaedic centre has provided an effective method of healthcare delivery while enforcing social distancing measures - which proves vital in combating the spread of COVID-19 and ushering in a new normal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Z Chin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, 150744National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Nazrul Nashi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, 150744National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Shuxun Lin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, 150744National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Kevin Yik
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, 150744National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Gamaliel Tan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, 150744National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Fareed Hy Kagda
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, 150744National University Health System, Singapore
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Abd-Alrazaq A, Hassan A, Abuelezz I, Ahmed A, Alzubaidi MS, Shah U, Alhuwail D, Giannicchi A, Househ M. Overview of Technologies Implemented During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e29136. [PMID: 34406962 PMCID: PMC8767979 DOI: 10.2196/29136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Technologies have been extensively implemented to provide health care services for all types of clinical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. While several reviews have been conducted regarding technologies used during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were limited by focusing either on a specific technology (or features) or proposed rather than implemented technologies. OBJECTIVE This review aims to provide an overview of technologies, as reported in the literature, implemented during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We conducted a scoping review using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) Extension for Scoping Reviews. Studies were retrieved by searching 8 electronic databases, checking the reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews (backward reference list checking), and checking studies that cited included studies (forward reference list checking). The search terms were chosen based on the target intervention (ie, technologies) and the target disease (ie, COVID-19). We included English publications that focused on technologies or digital tools implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide health-related services regardless of target health condition, user, or setting. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data from eligible papers. We used a narrative approach to synthesize extracted data. RESULTS Of 7374 retrieved papers, 126 were deemed eligible. Telemedicine was the most common type of technology (107/126, 84.9%) implemented in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the most common mode of telemedicine was synchronous (100/108, 92.6%). The most common purpose of the technologies was providing consultation (75/126, 59.5%), followed by following up with patients (45/126, 35.7%), and monitoring their health status (22/126, 17.4%). Zoom (22/126, 17.5%) and WhatsApp (12/126, 9.5%) were the most commonly used videoconferencing and social media platforms, respectively. Both health care professionals and health consumers were the most common target users (103/126, 81.7%). The health condition most frequently targeted was COVID-19 (38/126, 30.2%), followed by any physical health conditions (21/126, 16.7%), and mental health conditions (13/126, 10.3%). Technologies were web-based in 84.1% of the studies (106/126). Technologies could be used through 11 modes, and the most common were mobile apps (86/126, 68.3%), desktop apps (73/126, 57.9%), telephone calls (49/126, 38.9%), and websites (45/126, 35.7%). CONCLUSIONS Technologies played a crucial role in mitigating the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We did not find papers describing the implementation of other technologies (eg, contact-tracing apps, drones, blockchain) during the first wave. Furthermore, technologies in this review were used for other purposes (eg, drugs and vaccines discovery, social distancing, and immunity passport). Future research on studies on these technologies and purposes is recommended, and further reviews are required to investigate technologies implemented in subsequent waves of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa Abd-Alrazaq
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Asmaa Hassan
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Israa Abuelezz
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Arfan Ahmed
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mahmood Saleh Alzubaidi
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Uzair Shah
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dari Alhuwail
- Information Science Department, Kuwait University, Kuwait, Kuwait
- Health Informatics Unit, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait, Kuwait
| | - Anna Giannicchi
- School of Professional Studies, Berkeley College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mowafa Househ
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
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Perception of Cosmetic Procedures among Saudis during COVID-19 Pandemic. PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY-GLOBAL OPEN 2021; 9:e3710. [PMID: 34235043 PMCID: PMC8245110 DOI: 10.1097/gox.0000000000003710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: A novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The fast spread of the virus has led to a significant reduction in the numbers of elective procedures especially cosmetic interventions. Although many measures have been carried out to offload the health care system, it is unclear whether these changes had an effect on general population perception toward undergoing cosmetic procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the perception of Saudis toward undergoing a cosmetic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: An online survey consisting of two parts was used, with a series of questions about cosmetic procedures, in general, and cosmetic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular. The survey included Saudis (age 18 to 60 years) with access to social media. Results: A total of 563 respondents participated in this survey. The vast majority were women (86.9%) and were between 18 and 24 years old (38.7%). Some 27.4% considered a cosmetic procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, only 11.9% underwent any. In the majority of the participants (86%), the pandemic did not change their minds about having a cosmetic procedure. About 49.7% agreed that fear of contracting the virus would be a factor for not undergoing a cosmetic procedure during the pandemic. Conclusions: Clear differences in the engagement and perception of cosmetic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic exist among Saudis. More studies are needed to explore the effects of pandemics on aesthetic practice and to find ways to perform elective procedures in a safe way.
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Impact of COVID-19 on Elective Cleft Surgery in Low- and Middle-income Countries. PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY-GLOBAL OPEN 2021; 9:e3656. [PMID: 34168945 PMCID: PMC8219249 DOI: 10.1097/gox.0000000000003656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health systems worldwide, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many countries limited the delivery of elective surgery. To date, COVID-19’s impact on elective surgery in LMICs has been unquantified. We use operative data from a large international non-government cleft organization to compare case volume for 2019 and 2020 to quantify the impact of COVID-19. Methods: Smile Train supports a partner network of over 1100 partners globally to deliver treatment to children with cleft lip and cleft palate (CLP). Treatment data is documented into a proprietary digital platform, Smile Train Express. We compared monthly treatment data for 2019 to 2020, by country, and by World Bank Income group to describe the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on CLP surgery in LMICs. Results: Our analysis shows 25,444 (31.4%) fewer primary operations performed between January and December 2020 than in the same period in 2019 with the most significant decline in procedures observed in April 2020. Many countries resumed elective surgery for CLP procedures from May onward and volume approximated that of pre-pandemic baseline by November of 2020. Conclusions: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic had a large impact on health systems and service delivery across the world. We find that this is evident in the delivery of CLP surgery in LMICs. The impact is characterized by a dramatic decrease in surgery rates in April of 2020 with a recovery of surgical volume from July 2020 onwards. The rate of surgical rate recovery is consistent across World Bank Income groups.
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Abd-alrazaq A, Hassan A, Abuelezz I, Ahmed A, Alzubaidi MS, Shah U, Alhuwail D, Giannicchi A, Househ M. Overview of Technologies Implemented During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review (Preprint).. [DOI: 10.2196/preprints.29136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Technologies have been extensively implemented to provide health care services for all types of clinical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. While several reviews have been conducted regarding technologies used during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were limited by focusing either on a specific technology (or features) or proposed rather than implemented technologies.
OBJECTIVE
This review aims to provide an overview of technologies, as reported in the literature, implemented during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
We conducted a scoping review using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) Extension for Scoping Reviews. Studies were retrieved by searching 8 electronic databases, checking the reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews (backward reference list checking), and checking studies that cited included studies (forward reference list checking). The search terms were chosen based on the target intervention (ie, technologies) and the target disease (ie, COVID-19). We included English publications that focused on technologies or digital tools implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide health-related services regardless of target health condition, user, or setting. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data from eligible papers. We used a narrative approach to synthesize extracted data.
RESULTS
Of 7374 retrieved papers, 126 were deemed eligible. Telemedicine was the most common type of technology (107/126, 84.9%) implemented in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the most common mode of telemedicine was synchronous (100/108, 92.6%). The most common purpose of the technologies was providing consultation (75/126, 59.5%), followed by following up with patients (45/126, 35.7%), and monitoring their health status (22/126, 17.4%). Zoom (22/126, 17.5%) and WhatsApp (12/126, 9.5%) were the most commonly used videoconferencing and social media platforms, respectively. Both health care professionals and health consumers were the most common target users (103/126, 81.7%). The health condition most frequently targeted was COVID-19 (38/126, 30.2%), followed by any physical health conditions (21/126, 16.7%), and mental health conditions (13/126, 10.3%). Technologies were web-based in 84.1% of the studies (106/126). Technologies could be used through 11 modes, and the most common were mobile apps (86/126, 68.3%), desktop apps (73/126, 57.9%), telephone calls (49/126, 38.9%), and websites (45/126, 35.7%).
CONCLUSIONS
Technologies played a crucial role in mitigating the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We did not find papers describing the implementation of other technologies (eg, contact-tracing apps, drones, blockchain) during the first wave. Furthermore, technologies in this review were used for other purposes (eg, drugs and vaccines discovery, social distancing, and immunity passport). Future research on studies on these technologies and purposes is recommended, and further reviews are required to investigate technologies implemented in subsequent waves of the pandemic.
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Sinha V, Malik M, Nugent N, Drake P, Cavale N. The Role of Virtual Consultations in Plastic Surgery During COVID-19 Lockdown. Aesthetic Plast Surg 2021; 45:777-783. [PMID: 32869133 PMCID: PMC7458356 DOI: 10.1007/s00266-020-01932-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background COVID-19 has led to government enforced ‘lockdown’ in the UK severely limiting face-to-face patient interaction. Virtual consultations present a means for continued patient access to health care. Our aim was to evaluate the use of virtual consultations (VCons) during lockdown and their possible role in the future. Methods An anonymous survey was disseminated to UK and European plastic surgeons via social media, email sharing and via the European Association of Societies of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery newsletter. Uptake of VCons, modality, effectiveness, safety and future utility were assessed. Results Forty-three senior plastic surgeons responded to the survey. The majority of the respondents (97.7%) reported using VCons during COVID-19 lockdown, of which 74.4% had no prior experience. Two-thirds of surgeons utilised commercial platforms such as Zoom, FaceTime and Skype, 38.1% of respondents did not know about or were unsure about adequate encryption for health care use, and just under a half (47.6%) reported they were unaware of or lacking GDPR compliance. Most (97.6%) say they are likely to use virtual consultations after lockdown. Conclusion Virtual consultations have had a crucial role in patient care during UK lockdown. It is clear that they will serve as an adjunct to face-to-face consultation in the future. Further regulation is required to ensure platforms offer adequate safety and security measures and are compliant with relevant data protection laws. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00266-020-01932-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Yiasemidou M, Tomlinson J, Chetter I, Biyani CS. Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) crisis on surgical training: global survey and a proposed framework for recovery. BJS Open 2021; 5:zraa051. [PMID: 33855364 PMCID: PMC8047098 DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zraa051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had a profound impact on surgical services, potentially having a detrimental impact on training opportunities. The aim of this global survey was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on surgical training and to develop a framework for recovery. METHODS A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted. This was designed by a steering committee of medical educationalists and validated by a group of trainees before dissemination. RESULTS A total of 608 responses were obtained from 34 countries and 15 specialties. The results demonstrated major disruption in all aspects of training. The impact was greatest for conferences (525 of 608) and hands-on courses (517 of 608), but less for inpatient care-related training (268 of 608). European trainees were significantly more likely to experience direct training disruption than trainees in Asia (odds ratio 0.15) or Australia (OR 0.10) (χ2 = 87.162, P < 0.001). Alternative training resources (webinars, 359 of 608; educational videos, 234 of 608) have emerged, although trainees expressed some dissatisfaction with them. The collective responses generated a four-pillar framework for training recovery that involved: guidance from training stakeholders with the involvement of trainees; prioritization of training, especially the roles of senior surgeons/trainers; provision of access to alternative/new teaching methods; and measures to address trainee anxiety. CONCLUSION Training has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The introduction of new teaching methods and a focus on training after the pandemic are imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Yiasemidou
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Leeds, UK; University of Hull, Hull, UK; Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, UK
| | | | - I Chetter
- University of Hull, Hull, UK; Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, UK
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Cordova LZ, Savage N, Ram R, Ellis L, Tobin V, Rozen WM, Seifman MA. Effects of COVID-19 lockdown measures on emergency plastic and reconstructive surgery presentations. ANZ J Surg 2021; 91:415-419. [PMID: 33538101 PMCID: PMC8013506 DOI: 10.1111/ans.16625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background In Australia, the COVID‐19 pandemic has caused severe social disruptions, including restrictions to the movement of people. Healthcare centres around the world have seen changes in the nature of injuries acquired during the COVID‐19 pandemic; we therefore hypothesize that social isolation measures have changed the pattern of plastic and reconstructive surgery presentations. Methods A prospective cohort study was designed comparing patient presentations during the enforced COVID‐19 lockdown to two previous periods. All emergency referrals requiring operative intervention by the plastic and reconstructive surgery unit of our institution were included. Patient demographics, place and mechanism of injury, drug and alcohol involvement, delays to presentation, length of admission and complication rates were collected. Results Demographics and complication rates were similar across all groups. A 31.8% reduction in total number of emergency cases was seen during the lockdown period. Increase in do‐it‐yourself injuries (P = 0.001), bicycle injuries (P = 0.001) and injuries acquired via substance abuse (P = 0.041) was observed. Head and neck injuries, mostly due to animal bites and falls, were also more prevalent compared to the same period the previous year (P = 0.007). As expected, over 80% of plastic surgery operations during the COVID‐19 period were due to injuries acquired at home, a significant increase compared to previous periods. Conclusion Despite changes in the pattern of presentations requiring plastic and reconstructive emergency surgery, traumatic injuries continued to occur during the pandemic. Thus, planning will be essential to ensure resource allocation for emergency procedures is sustained as second and third waves of COVID‐19 cases emerge worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Z Cordova
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicholas Savage
- Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rachna Ram
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lisa Ellis
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vicky Tobin
- Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Warren M Rozen
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marc A Seifman
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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