Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic on private ENT consulting practice during the first month of lockdown in Réunion Island in 2020.
Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis
; 137(4): 251-256, 2020 Sep.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32712116
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the impact of the first month of lockdown related to the 2020 SARS-Cov-2 epidemic on the consulting activity of private ENT physicians in Réunion Island. MATERIAL ANDMETHODS:
A multicenter prospective study analyzed the consulting activity of 12 ENT physicians in full-time private practice. The main endpoints were the number, characteristics and conditions of consultations. Secondary endpoints comprised presenting symptoms, diagnosis, prescriptions, adverse effects, and progression of monthly consulting turnover.RESULTS:
Six hundred and ninety three consultations were performed during the study period (Appendix 1), with 50% emergency consultations. In 57.9% were face-to-face, 28.4% by phone and 13.7% video. In face-to-face consultation, the physician wore gloves in 53.8% of cases and a mask in 92.2% surgical mask in 71.6% of cases and FFP2 in 28.4%. The three most frequent symptoms (48.5% of cases) were otalgia, hearing impairment, and vertigo. The three most frequent diagnoses (60.6% of cases) were otitis, intra-auricular foreign body (including wax), and pharyngeal infection. The three most frequently prescribed complementary exams (74.3% of cases) were imaging, hearing work-up, and specialist opinion. The three most frequently prescribed treatments (52.7% of cases) were intra-auricular drops, oral antibiotics, and nasal spray. The incidence of adverse effects was 0.001%. None of the physicians or patients seemed to have been infected by Covid-19 during the study period. There was a 47.3-91% (median, 75.6%) drop in monthly consultation turnover.CONCLUSION:
The present study underscored the availability and adaptability of ENT physicians in the Réunion Island in an epidemic context, although economic impact was detrimental.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Otolaringología
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Enfermedades Otorrinolaringológicas
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Neumonía Viral
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Práctica Privada
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Cuarentena
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Infecciones por Coronavirus
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
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Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Child
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Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article