S Fisher1,2, M Ziv1. 1. Dermatology and Venerology Department, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. 2. Nursing Department, Steyer School of Health Professions, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: At the end of 2019, an innovative coronavirus caused an outbreak of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city Hubei Province of China. Despite the direct effect on the routine of all life aspects, there are no clinical guidelines regarding phototherapy treatment during COVID-19 pandemic and as a result, phototherapies units continued to deliver this therapy for patients worldwide. OBJECTIVE: We wish to explore the phototherapy utilization among dermatologic patients. METHODS: We marked all patients that continue to arrive and being treated during COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: From March more than 50% of patients stopped arriving to treatments due to the fear of COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has a major implication on chronic dermatology treatments such as phototherapy.
BACKGROUND: At the end of 2019, an innovative coronavirus caused an outbreak of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city Hubei Province of China. Despite the direct effect on the routine of all life aspects, there are no clinical guidelines regarding phototherapy treatment during COVID-19 pandemic and as a result, phototherapies units continued to deliver this therapy for patients worldwide. OBJECTIVE: We wish to explore the phototherapy utilization among dermatologic patients. METHODS: We marked all patients that continue to arrive and being treated during COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: From March more than 50% of patients stopped arriving to treatments due to the fear of COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has a major implication on chronic dermatology treatments such as phototherapy.