RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The professional and personal impact of the coronavirus pandemic on US neurointerventional practices: a nationwide survey
JF Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery
JO J NeuroIntervent Surg
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 927
OP 931
DO 10.1136/neurintsurg-2020-016513
VO 12
IS 10
A1 Fargen, Kyle M
A1 Leslie-Mazwi, Thabele M
A1 Klucznik, Richard P
A1 Wolfe, Stacey Q
A1 Brown, Patrick
A1 Ansari, Sameer A
A1 Dabus, Guilherme
A1 Spiotta, Alejandro M
A1 Mokin, Maxim
A1 Hassan, Ameer E
A1 Liebeskind, David
A1 Welch, Babu G
A1 Siddiqui, Adnan H
A1 Hirsch, Joshua A
YR 2020
UL http://jnis.bmj.com/content/12/10/927.abstract
AB 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.