TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on Colombian anesthesiologists
T2 - Survey study
AU - Amay, Sebastian
AU - Murillo, Marcelino
AU - Bustamante, Boris Julián Pinto
AU - Sánchez-Bell, Nubia
AU - Parra, María José Mateus
AU - Andrade, María José
AU - Zárate, Natalia González
AU - Pérez, María Paula
AU - Maya, José Jorge
AU - Monsalve, Valentina
AU - Fayad, Nashla Fayad
AU - Belalcázar, Gabriela Rosero
AU - Charul-Palaci, Ilana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Introduction: The practice of anesthesiology during the COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a psychological impact, and has been associated with ethical dilemmas, work overload, and occupational risk. Objective: To understand different problems affecting anesthesiologists, in particular with regards to professional ethics in the decision-making process, increased personal workload, and the potential risk in terms of their own safety and health, as a consequence of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. A survey was administered to anesthesiologists members of the Colombian Society of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation (S.C.A.R.E.), to enquire about work hours, occupational safety, prevention standards and strategies, and ethical aspects involved in decision making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 218 anesthesiologist participated in the survey. Most of the respondents felt that there was not a significant increase in their workload, except for those in critical care (42.5 %; n = 17). Most of the participants believe that leisure time is not enough. 55.96 % (n = 122) of the participants said they felt moderately safe with the biosecurity measures, but with a higher risk of contagion versus other practitioners, with 72.9 % (n = 159) responding that they used their own money to buy personal protection equipment (PPE). There was also evidence that one fourth of the respondents has faced ethical dilemmas during the resuscitation of SARS-CoV-2 - infected patients. Conclusions: The information gathered is a preliminary approach to the situation arising in Colombia as a result of the pandemic; it is clear that anesthesiologists perceive higher associated lack of safety due to different factors such as higher risk of infection, shortage of PPEs and burnout, inter alia. Hence we believe that it is fundamental to acknowledge the work of all anesthesiologists and understand the impact that the pandemic has had on this group of professionals.
AB - Introduction: The practice of anesthesiology during the COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a psychological impact, and has been associated with ethical dilemmas, work overload, and occupational risk. Objective: To understand different problems affecting anesthesiologists, in particular with regards to professional ethics in the decision-making process, increased personal workload, and the potential risk in terms of their own safety and health, as a consequence of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. A survey was administered to anesthesiologists members of the Colombian Society of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation (S.C.A.R.E.), to enquire about work hours, occupational safety, prevention standards and strategies, and ethical aspects involved in decision making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 218 anesthesiologist participated in the survey. Most of the respondents felt that there was not a significant increase in their workload, except for those in critical care (42.5 %; n = 17). Most of the participants believe that leisure time is not enough. 55.96 % (n = 122) of the participants said they felt moderately safe with the biosecurity measures, but with a higher risk of contagion versus other practitioners, with 72.9 % (n = 159) responding that they used their own money to buy personal protection equipment (PPE). There was also evidence that one fourth of the respondents has faced ethical dilemmas during the resuscitation of SARS-CoV-2 - infected patients. Conclusions: The information gathered is a preliminary approach to the situation arising in Colombia as a result of the pandemic; it is clear that anesthesiologists perceive higher associated lack of safety due to different factors such as higher risk of infection, shortage of PPEs and burnout, inter alia. Hence we believe that it is fundamental to acknowledge the work of all anesthesiologists and understand the impact that the pandemic has had on this group of professionals.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85141804839&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85141804839&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5554/22562087.e1016
DO - 10.5554/22562087.e1016
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85141804839
SN - 2256-2087
VL - 50
JO - Colombian Journal of Anesthesiology
JF - Colombian Journal of Anesthesiology
IS - 3
M1 - e1016
ER -
