Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Rheumatology Practice in Latin America
| Autor: | Antonio Cachafeiro-Vilar, Paula I. Burgos, Mario H. Cardiel, Ana Maria Sapag, Dina Arrieta, Nilmo Chávez, Rubén Montufar, Gil Reyes, Jossiell Then-Báez, Sergio Kowalski, Sayonara Sandino, Carlos Santiago-Pastelín, Belia Meléndez, Daniel Palleiro, Diana Romero-Alvernia, Nelly Colman, Enrique R. Soriano, Guillermo J. Pons-Estel, Manuel F. Ugarte-Gil, Daniel G. Fernández-Ávila, Yurilis J Fuentes-Silva, Julián E. Barahona-Correa |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
Latin Americans Immunology Telehealth League COVID-19 Testing Rheumatology Internal medicine Surveys and Questionnaires Pandemic medicine Immunology and Allergy Humans Pandemics Inpatient care business.industry SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Middle Aged Cross-Sectional Studies Latin America Private practice Family medicine Observational study Female business |
| Zdroj: | The Journal of rheumatology. 48(10) |
| ISSN: | 0315-162X |
| Popis: | ObjectiveTo describe the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on Latin American rheumatologists from a professional, economic, and occupational point of view.MethodsWe conducted an observational cross-sectional study using an online survey sent to rheumatologists of each non–English-speaking country member of the Pan American League of Rheumatology Associations (PANLAR). A specific questionnaire was developed.ResultsOur survey included 1097 rheumatologists from 19 Latin American countries. Median (IQR) age of respondents was 48 (40–59) years and 618 (56.3%) were female. Duration of practice since graduation as a rheumatologist was 17 years, and 585 (53.3%) were aged < 50 years. Most rheumatologists worked in private practice (81.8%) and almost half worked in institutional outpatient centers (55%) and inpatient care (49.9%). The median number of weekly hours (IQR) of face-to-face practice before the pandemic was 27 (15–40) hours, but was reduced to 10 (5–20) hours during the pandemic. Telehealth was used by 866 (78.9%) respondents during the pandemic. Most common methods of communication were video calls (555; 50.6%), telephone calls (499; 45.5%), and WhatsApp voice calls (423; 38.6%). A reduction in monthly wages was reported by 946 (86.2%) respondents. Consultation fees also were reduced and 88 (8%) rheumatologists stated they had lost their jobs. A reduction in patient adherence to medication was reported by nearly 50% of respondents. Eighty-one (7.4%) rheumatologists received a COVID-19 diagnosis and 7 (8.6%) of them were hospitalized.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped rheumatology practice in Latin America and has had a profound effect on rheumatologists’ behaviors and clinical practice. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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