Abstract
Background Little is currently known about the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on neurointerventional (NI) procedural volumes or its toll on physician wellness. Methods A 37-question online survey was designed and distributed to physician members of three NI physician organizations. Results A total of 151 individual survey responses were obtained. Reduced mechanical thrombectomy procedures compared with pre-pandemic were observed with 32% reporting a greater than 50% reduction in thrombectomy volumes. In concert with most (76%) reporting at least a 25% reduction in non-mechanical thrombectomy urgent NI procedures and a nearly unanimous (96%) cessation of non-urgent elective cases, 68% of physicians reported dramatic reductions (>50%) in overall NI procedural volume compared with pre-pandemic. Increased door-to-puncture times were reported by 79%. COVID-19-positive infections occurred in 1% of physician respondents: an additional 8% quarantined for suspected infection. Sixty-six percent of respondents reported increased career stress, 56% increased personal life/family stress, and 35% increased career burnout. Stress was significantly increased in physicians with COVID-positive family members (P<0.05). Conclusions This is the first study designed to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on NI physician practices, case volumes, compensation, personal/family stresses, and work-related burnout. Future studies examining these factors following the resumption of elective cases and relaxing of social distancing measures will be necessary to better understand these phenomena.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 927-931 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of neurointerventional surgery |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2020 |
Keywords
- infection
- stroke
- thrombectomy
- Attitude of Health Personnel
- United States
- Humans
- Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology
- Male
- Elective Surgical Procedures/statistics & numerical data
- Neurosurgery/statistics & numerical data
- Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology
- Delivery of Health Care/statistics & numerical data
- Pandemics/statistics & numerical data
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Physician's Role
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Surgery