The collateral impact of COVID19 among surgeons and residents: Second cross-sectional survey about the Colombian perspective

Abstract

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has led health services to adapt, surgical training has had to restructure, and personal life has had to thrive hardships. We aimed to describe the evolution of surgeons' and residents' perceptions about the impact COVID-19 has had on Colombia's surgical practice. Methods. Descriptive cross-sectional study using a structured electronic survey among general surgery residents, and graduated surgeons who have a clinical practice in Colombia. Results. 355 participants were included, with a median age of 37 years (IQR 30, 51), and 32.1% female. There were 28.7% residents, 43.3% general surgeons, and 27.8% subespecialist in surgery. Overall, 48.7% of respondents were from Bogotá, and 38.8% worked at academic private hospitals. Although almost all participants reported having used telemedicine platforms during the pandemic, 58% of the respondents did not view telemedicine as sufficient for follow-up consults. More than 80% of surgeons surveyed reported that their monthly incomes had been reduced. Discussion. The second survey showed a better-perceived adherence to safety protocols at their institutions than at the beginning of the pandemic. However, the toll on economic and academic domains are substantial among the surgical community. As the pandemic's effects are expected to last longer in our region, telemedicine services acceptance and healthcare providers' job stability need to be improved in Colombia.