COVID-19 Resource Catalog-The Orthopaedic Forum Survey of COVID-19 Disease Among Orthopaedic Surgeons in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China

The Orthopaedic Forum Survey of COVID-19 Disease Among Orthopaedic Surgeons in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China

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A survey conducted in Wuhan, China aimed to identify orthopedic surgeons who were infected with COVID-19 and explore possible risk factors. The survey distributed a self-administered questionnaire to collect information on demographic variables, clinical manifestations, exposure history, awareness of the outbreak, infection control training, and personal protection practices. A total of 26 orthopedic surgeons from 8 hospitals were identified as having COVID-19, with the incidence in each hospital ranging from 1.5% to 20.7%. The onset of symptoms occurred between January 13 and February 5, 2020, with the peak on January 23, 8 days prior to the peak of the public epidemic. The primary suspected sites of exposure were general wards, followed by public places at the hospital, operating rooms, the intensive care unit, and the outpatient clinic. Transmission from infected surgeons to others occurred in 25% of cases, including to family members, colleagues, patients, and friends. The study found that participating in real-time training on prevention measures had a protective effect against COVID-19, while not wearing an N95 respirator and severe fatigue were risk factors. The study highlights the risk faced by orthopedic surgeons during the pandemic and emphasizes the need for increased vigilance and precautions to avoid infection. The authors recommend minimizing elective operations, providing real-time training, ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment, and promoting adherence to infection prevention and control measures. They also stress the importance of clear communication, emotional support, and effective leadership for healthcare workers.

Keywords

Wuhan

orthopedic surgeons

COVID-19

risk factors

exposure history

transmission

prevention measures

N95 respirator

elective operations

healthcare workers