Ophthalmic practice during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: recommendations versus real life
Ashour, Doaa; Awad-Allah, Mo′mena AhmadA; Yosef, Mostafa; Saleh, MohamedI;
Abstract
Purpose
To assess the adherence of ophthalmologists to the current recommendations
during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the real-life practice and the
measures taken by different institutions to decrease the risk of infection.
Methods
A cross-sectional study among ophthalmologists that was done via a selfadministered
web-based survey with 25 questions, starting with demographic
data, followed by questions regarding the effect of the pandemic on practice.
After that, detailed questions about infection control measures taken by different
facilities and the use of various personal protective equipment and their availability
were asked.
Results
We received 106 responses to the survey. Most of the respondents (86.8%)
reported a reduction in the number of patients in the outpatient clinics, 49%
limited services to emergencies, 50% reported triage for all patients, and 28%
only reported providing face masks for patients. All our participants wear masks
either surgical or filtering, 67% always use slit-lamp shields, and 75.5% apply hand
hygiene per patient. The availability of various personal protective equipment and
disinfectants was reported by 72% of our participants.
Conclusion
Real-life practice differs from the theoretical recommendations. Extra measures are
required regarding patients’ triage, availability, and use of slit-lamp shields, face
shields, and goggles. A stricter hand hygiene policy needs to be implemented and
monitored.
To assess the adherence of ophthalmologists to the current recommendations
during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the real-life practice and the
measures taken by different institutions to decrease the risk of infection.
Methods
A cross-sectional study among ophthalmologists that was done via a selfadministered
web-based survey with 25 questions, starting with demographic
data, followed by questions regarding the effect of the pandemic on practice.
After that, detailed questions about infection control measures taken by different
facilities and the use of various personal protective equipment and their availability
were asked.
Results
We received 106 responses to the survey. Most of the respondents (86.8%)
reported a reduction in the number of patients in the outpatient clinics, 49%
limited services to emergencies, 50% reported triage for all patients, and 28%
only reported providing face masks for patients. All our participants wear masks
either surgical or filtering, 67% always use slit-lamp shields, and 75.5% apply hand
hygiene per patient. The availability of various personal protective equipment and
disinfectants was reported by 72% of our participants.
Conclusion
Real-life practice differs from the theoretical recommendations. Extra measures are
required regarding patients’ triage, availability, and use of slit-lamp shields, face
shields, and goggles. A stricter hand hygiene policy needs to be implemented and
monitored.
Other data
Title | Ophthalmic practice during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: recommendations versus real life | Authors | Ashour, Doaa ; Awad-Allah, Mo′mena AhmadA; Yosef, Mostafa ; Saleh, MohamedI | Keywords | coronavirus disease 2019, infection control, ophthalmologists, pandemic, personal protective equipment | Issue Date | 29-Jun-2021 | Publisher | Wolters Kluwer - Medknow | Journal | Journal of the Egyptian Ophthalmological Society | Volume | 114 | Issue | 2 | Start page | 46 | End page | 52 | ISSN | 2090-0686 | DOI | 10.4103/ejos.ejos_16_21 |
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