The impact of COVID-19 pandemic in dermatology outpatient clinics in Turkey: A survey study.

Abstract

BackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic has substantially affected the healthcare systems around the world. It has also induced some changes in working habits at dermatology clinics. The majority of dermatology clinics limited the number of patients at outpatient clinics and postponed the elective procedures.Aims and ObjectivesTo evaluate the working conditions and habits of dermatologists in Turkey during the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsThis is a survey study with seventeen questions in which two hundred fifteen dermatologists working in Turkey participated.ResultsOur results revealed that 53.5% of the participants worked in the areas related to COVID‐19 during the pandemic. The average number of dermatology outpatient days in a week was five among the 48.8% of dermatologists, 21.4% of those had three working days, and 18.1% of those had four days. During the pandemic, the most common reasons for referral to outpatient clinics were acne and acneiform eruptions (88.8%), dermatitis (73.5%), and hair loss (71.2%). Participants hesitated to use the following treatments: long‐term systemic steroid (77.7%), cyclosporine (69.8%), and methotrexate (60%).ConclusionIt is observed that the COVID‐19 pandemic had affected the working habits and conditions of the dermatologists, which might be considered for the designing of new working approaches.