Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical practice in Iraq

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affects all aspects of life all over the world; general surgeons are highly affected along with other healthcare personnel. A gloomy course of the disease makes it hazardous till now; its impact and ways of protection should be of concern for us so that we can keep on our works. Methods: A survey was carried out at our hospital among general surgeons and surgeons of other specialties of the course with junior doctors and residents. A questionnaire was answered by them concerning their work with the impact of the virus, collecting data from the statistical unit electronically. Iraq has started lockdown for a period of 24 months from March 2020 to March 2022. Results: This study is a cross-sectional study using Google Forms and spread over surgical teams of different specialties at the Imemein Kadhumein Medical City Center. From about 248 responses, 118 responses were taken from the survey. Out of the 50 surgeons, 40 (80%) were infected and out of the 68 residents 62 (91.1%) were infected in our hospital (open and laparoscopic). About 20% of the doctors completely stopped attending outpatient clinics, until vaccination started on March 2021, an overall decrease of 60%. A drop of >75% of income was noticed by 45% of them; and 25% of them feel < 75% of the income was received. But others have no change or increase in income as patients shift toward private hospitals because the government ones become loaded with COVID patients. Information about the illness and its sequelae was found through the net to be about 81% and through television to be 16%, whereas others were through national and institutional announcements. Conclusion: Standardized measures in detection, treatment, and/or vaccination should be taken into consideration based on the solid scientific facts to have a road map for surgeries during this or subsequent pandemics, getting the best outcome for doctors and patients.