Abstract
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on clinical practice and healthcare professionals. We aimed to assess how interventional radiology services (IR services) were impacted by the pandemic and describe adaptations to services and working patterns across the first two waves.MethodsAn anonymous six-part survey created using an online service was distributed as a single-use web link to 7125 members of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe via email. Out of 450 respondents, 327 who completed the survey at least partially including 278 who completed the full survey were included into the analysis.ResultsInterventional radiologists (IRs) reported that the overall workload decreased a lot (18%) or mildly (36%) or remained stable (29%), and research activities were often delayed (30% in most/all projects, 33% in some projects). Extreme concerns about the health of families, patients and general public were reported by 43%, 34% and 40%, respectively, and 29% reported having experienced significant stress (25% quite a bit; 23% somewhat). Compared to the first wave, significant differences were seen regarding changes to working patterns, effect on emergency work, outpatient and day-case services in the second wave. A total of 59% of respondents felt that their organisation was better prepared for a third wave. A total of 19% and 39% reported that the changes implemented would be continued or potentially continued on a long-term basis.ConclusionWhile the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected IR services in terms of workload, research activity and emotional burden, IRs seem to have improved the own perception of adaptation and preparation for further waves of the pandemic.
Highlights
After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, interventional radiological societies all over the world published many guidelines on how to continue services for urgent procedures while considering cross-contamination and patient, as well as staff safety
When comparing those to responses from Interventional radiologists (IRs) who reported no increase, we found significant differences indicating that working hours had been less consolidated, day-case clinics were affected less, and emergency work had increased in volume more
Research activity was severely affected with more than 60% of the participants reporting that research projects were either stopped or significantly delayed (Fig. 2b, d)
Summary
After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, interventional radiological societies all over the world published many guidelines on how to continue services for urgent procedures while considering cross-contamination and patient, as well as staff safety. The published literature showed that during the first wave, the overall number of procedures performed by interventional radiologists (IRs) decreased by 16–62%, out-of-clinics hours and stress increased, and the number of outpatient cases was affected [8–12]. As the second wave began, further postponement and delays in provisions for IR services were not regarded as a sustainable solution, and many IRs worried about the negative effect on the wellbeing of patients [16–19]. Conclusion While the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected IR services in terms of workload, research activity and emotional burden, IRs seem to have improved the own Interventional Radiology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
