The experiences and wellbeing of healthcare professionals working in the field of ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was evolving: a cross-sectional survey study
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Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objectives: Assess experience of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working with ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology during the evolving SARS-CoV-2 pandemic given the new and unprecedented challenges involving viral exposure, personal protective equipment (PPE) and wellbeing.
Design: Prospective cross-sectional survey study.
Setting: Online international survey. Single-best, open box and Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) questions.
Participants: The survey was sent to 35,509 HCPs in 124 countries and was open from 7th-21st May 2020. 2237/3237 (69.1%) HCPs from 115 countries who consented to participate completed the survey. 1058 (47.3%) completed the HADS.
Primary outcome measures: Overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, depression and anxiety amongst HCPs in relation to country and PPE availability.
Analyses: Univariate analyses were used to investigate associations without generating erroneous causal conclusions.
Results: Confirmed/suspected SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was 13.0%. PPE provision concerns were raised by 74.1% of participants; highest amongst trainees/resident physicians (83.9%), and amongst HCPs in Spain (89.7%). Most participants worked in self-perceived high-risk areas for SARS-CoV-2 (67.5-87.0%), with proportionately more trainees interacting with suspected/confirmed infected patients (57.1% versus 24.2-40.6%) and sonographers seeing more patients who did not wear a mask (33.3% versus 13.9-7.9%). The most frequent PPE combination used were gloves and a surgical mask (22.3%). UK and US respondents reported spending less time self-isolating (8.8 days) and lower satisfaction with their national pandemic response (37.0-43.0%). 19.8% and 8.8% of respondents met the criteria for moderate to severe anxiety and depression respectively.
Conclusions: Reported SARS-CoV-2 HCP prevalence is consistent with literature findings. Most respondents used gloves and a surgical mask, with a greater SARS-CoV-2 prevalence compared with those using ‘full’ PPE. HCPs with the least agency (trainees and sonographers) were not only more likely to see high-risk patients but less likely to be protected. A fifth of respondents reported moderate to severe anxiety.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, healthcare professional, ultrasound, anxiety, depression.
Design: Prospective cross-sectional survey study.
Setting: Online international survey. Single-best, open box and Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) questions.
Participants: The survey was sent to 35,509 HCPs in 124 countries and was open from 7th-21st May 2020. 2237/3237 (69.1%) HCPs from 115 countries who consented to participate completed the survey. 1058 (47.3%) completed the HADS.
Primary outcome measures: Overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, depression and anxiety amongst HCPs in relation to country and PPE availability.
Analyses: Univariate analyses were used to investigate associations without generating erroneous causal conclusions.
Results: Confirmed/suspected SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was 13.0%. PPE provision concerns were raised by 74.1% of participants; highest amongst trainees/resident physicians (83.9%), and amongst HCPs in Spain (89.7%). Most participants worked in self-perceived high-risk areas for SARS-CoV-2 (67.5-87.0%), with proportionately more trainees interacting with suspected/confirmed infected patients (57.1% versus 24.2-40.6%) and sonographers seeing more patients who did not wear a mask (33.3% versus 13.9-7.9%). The most frequent PPE combination used were gloves and a surgical mask (22.3%). UK and US respondents reported spending less time self-isolating (8.8 days) and lower satisfaction with their national pandemic response (37.0-43.0%). 19.8% and 8.8% of respondents met the criteria for moderate to severe anxiety and depression respectively.
Conclusions: Reported SARS-CoV-2 HCP prevalence is consistent with literature findings. Most respondents used gloves and a surgical mask, with a greater SARS-CoV-2 prevalence compared with those using ‘full’ PPE. HCPs with the least agency (trainees and sonographers) were not only more likely to see high-risk patients but less likely to be protected. A fifth of respondents reported moderate to severe anxiety.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, healthcare professional, ultrasound, anxiety, depression.
Date Issued
2022-02-04
Date Acceptance
2022-01-05
Citation
BMJ Open, 2022, 12 (2), pp.1-12
ISSN
2044-6055
Publisher
BMJ Journals
Start Page
1
End Page
12
Journal / Book Title
BMJ Open
Volume
12
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon this work for any purpose, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the licence is given, and indication of whether changes were made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon this work for any purpose, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the licence is given, and indication of whether changes were made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
License URL
Sponsor
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Identifier
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/t.bourne
Grant Number
IS-BRC-1215-20013
Subjects
gynaecology
public health
ultrasonography
ultrasound
COVID-19
Cross-Sectional Studies
Delivery of Health Care
Female
Gynecology
Health Personnel
Humans
Obstetrics
Pandemics
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2
Surveys and Questionnaires
Humans
Prospective Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Gynecology
Obstetrics
Pregnancy
Health Personnel
Delivery of Health Care
Female
Pandemics
Surveys and Questionnaires
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
1103 Clinical Sciences
1117 Public Health and Health Services
1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United Kingdom
Article Number
bmjopen-2021-051700.R1
Date Publish Online
2022-02-04