Boğaziçi Tıp Dergisi (Sep 2023)

Impact of Precautions on the Sustainability of Ophthalmology Practice in an Eye Clinic in Türkiye during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Okşan Alpoğan,
  • Alev Özçelik Köse

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14744/bmj.2023.33602
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 3
pp. 131 – 138

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION: The eye examination may carry the risk of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) for healthcare workers (HCWs) since it requires a close examination of the patient. The current study aimed to examine how HCWs' working conditions and personal precautions affect the sustainability of ophthalmology practice in an eye clinic during the pandemic period. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was applied to 70 HCWs in an eye clinic between June 01, 2020, and February 28, 2021, about their working conditions and protective measures they took against COVID-19. Sixty HCWs answered the questionnaire. In addition, the number of examinations and surgeries performed during the given study period was compared to the previous year. RESULTS: Among the participants, the mean age was 38.12+-9.53 years, and the rate of transmitting COVID-19 was 8.82% during the study period. Of the 6 HCWs with COVID-19, 4 shared the resting room with more than 5 people, and all of them removed their masks in the resting room. The hospital-acquired COVID-19 rate was 4.41%. The rate of using the N95 mask was 46.7%. HCWs stated that the most important point they paid attention to was ventilating the room as a precaution (82%). HCWs who always washed and disinfected their hands and always worked with windows and room doors open were 48.3%, 45%, 55%, and 40%, respectively. HCWs who always use protective glasses or goggles and biomicroscopic shields were 5% and 33.3%, respectively. The total number of examinations and surgeries decreased significantly during the study period compared to the previous year (p<0.005). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: During the pandemic period, the use of N95 protective masks along with general measures and physical conditions that allow ventilation of the working environment can be effective in preventing the spread of the virus. In addition, it would be important that HCWs take protective measures not only in the study room but also in the resting room. Overall, it could be possible to continue ophthalmology practice by taking these necessary precautions.

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