Come è cambiato il lavoro del pediatra al tempo del Covid

Abstract

<b>Background -</b> International literature documents that children and adolescents infected with the coronavirus develop moderate symptoms and a favourable prognosis. However, the pandemic has had a major impact on children’s health and the paediatricians’ work. The clinical work of paediatricians has significantly changed. <br> <b>Aims, materials and methods -</b> A qualitative pilot research was conducted thanks to the participation of 13 privileged witnesses. Through an anonymous questionnaire, the present research detected the changes in the overall activity of the Italian family paediatrician and the impact of the pandemic on their professional activity during the lockdown. The thematic analysis of the answers made it possible to focus on the main changes of the paediatric profession and explore the characteristics of its resilience, highlighting the most significant difficulties that paediatricians faced during Phase 1. <br> <b>Results and discussion -</b> What was lost in the clinical activity, towards the patient with acute pathology or in the prevention activity, has been regained with a new use of known means, such as telephone and email, or thanks to the use of new tools such as WhatsApp and video (telemedicine): those that were subsidiary means before the pandemic have become effective and permanent endowments of the paediatrician after the lockdown. Together with the technical acquisition, the professional identity has been strengthened in terms of shared professionalism, especially as to relationships with colleagues and the collaboration of families.