Cent Eur J Public Health 2023, 31(3):171-177 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7549

The COVID-19 frontiers – sink or swim

Anasuya Guha1, 2, Pavel Kraml3, Martin Chovanec2, Jakub Bala4, Jan Plzák5, Petr Schalek2
1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
2 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic
3 Department of Internal Medicine, Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic
4 Department of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation, University Hospital Bulovka, Prague, Czech Republic
5 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

Objectives: The objective of this study is to address issues faced by doctors working in the COVID-19 units during the second phase of COVID-19 in the Czech Republic, when the country registered the highest per capita rate of new COVID-19 cases in the world.

Methods: A prospective study was designed using Google online questionnaire. Inclusion criteria were doctors from medical and surgical specialties working in COVID-19 units. The Czech Medical Association was approached in obtaining permission and helping us distribute the questionnaire with an introductory message with the aims of the study via email to the chairpersons of 18 medical and surgical Czech Societies and their respective members. The online questionnaire link was active for 31 days. Completion of a questionnaire implied consent to participate. Data was collected from the completed responses and statistical analysis was done.

Results: Fifteen out of eighteen invited Societies participated in the study. Out of all the transferred or volunteering doctors at the COVID units, 47.6% were from 9 medical specialties and 52.4% from 6 surgical units. The highest transfers were seen amongst male surgeons with 21 to 35 years of work experience, whilst the youngest group of doctors made the highest contribution. There was no statistical significance between the effects of COVID-19 and gender. Despite adequate medical provisions, 42% of all doctors had issues with procedural diagnostic methods, 40% tested positive for COVID-19 and 31% reported staff reduction leading to diminished patients' admissions and compromised care. Doctors from surgical departments experienced more difficulties in working in COVID-19 units. Furthermore, on contraction of COVID-19, 114 doctors asserted a lack of support and another 26% were unaware of any services.

Conclusions: Our survey reiterates the relationship between factors related to occupational health and safety, standards of patient care and possibility of medicolegal consequences with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19, COVID-19 unit, frontiers, occupational risk, lack of employee support, medico-legal claims

Received: August 7, 2022; Revised: August 12, 2023; Accepted: August 12, 2023; Published: September 30, 2023  Show citation

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Guha A, Kraml P, Chovanec M, Bala J, Plzák J, Schalek P. The COVID-19 frontiers – sink or swim. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2023;31(3):171-177. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a7549. PubMed PMID: 37934480.
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