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The coronavirus pandemic impact: Perceptions and actions of the members of the Mexican Society of Ophthalmology

Abstract:

Purpose: To report the perceptions and actions undertaken by members of the Mexican Society of Ophthalmology (SMO) during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper focuses on the association between professional characteristics and the extent of implementation of the recommendations published by the SMO. Methods: An online survey at Google® Forms was sent via email to ophthalmologists registered with the SMO. A total of 3,296 questionnaires were sent. Two principal variables were selected for the purpose of analyzing the exploratory hypotheses: Seniority of the respondents and type of practice. Results: A total of 363 replies were obtained (11.01%). At the time of the survey, 223 ophthalmologists (61.3%) were continuing to see patients in their clinics, while 140 participants (38.5%) had ceased all activities. The main reason for stopping clinical work was the fear that the practices would become transmission hubs. There was a statistical association between higher seniority and discontinuing patient care (p = 0.002). A total of 107 (29.7%) participants continued performing surgical procedures. Participants with less than 10 years of experience had a higher probability of engaging in emergency surgical procedures (p = 0.04). The most commonly employed preventive measure was the use of face masks for patients, followed by the use of N95 respirators by doctors. Conclusion: The majority of the participants maintained their clinical work; in contrast, less than a third continued surgical activities. There was great diversity in the actions taken and in the adoption of SMO recommendations. The use of personal protective equipment was the most employed security measure.