Daniel M Cushman1, Masaru Teramoto1, Ashwin Babu2, Nathan Olafsen3, Kentaro Onishi4, Alexandra Asay1,5, Zachary L McCormick1. 1. Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. 2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Sports Medicine Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. 3. Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. 4. Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopedics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and. 5. Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a profound effect on the healthcare system. This study aimed to identify its effects on sports medicine physicians during the early phase of this pandemic. DESIGN: Survey study. SETTING: Sports medicine providers. PARTICIPANTS: Physician members of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine were surveyed between March 25 and April 4, 2020. A total of 810 responses were obtained from 2437 physicians who viewed the survey. INTERVENTIONS: The survey consisted of questions examining demographics, prepandemic practice patterns, anxiety and depression screening, and new beliefs and behaviors following government-based medical policy changes resulting from the pandemic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in clinical volume and treatment practices, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). RESULTS: The mean in-person clinic visits reduced to 17.9%, telephone visits to 24.4%, telemedicine (video) visits to 21.8%, and procedural visits to 13.8% of prepandemic practice volume. The mean PHQ-4 scores for physicians were 2.38 ± 2.40. Clinic and procedural volumes were reduced less by male physicians, as well as more experienced physicians, nonphysical medicine and rehabilitation training background, in government or private practice, and in the Southern region of the United States (P < 0.05). Physicians were more likely to reduce their anti-inflammatory (37.8% decreasing vs 6.8% increasing, P < 0.001) and opioid (10.5% vs 6.8%, P = 0.003) prescriptions rather than increase. CONCLUSIONS: During the early phase of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic sports medicine physicians reported reducing in-person evaluation, management, and procedure volume by over 80%. Multiple demographic and geographic factors were associated with practice volume changes.
OBJECTIVE: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a profound effect on the healthcare system. This study aimed to identify its effects on sports medicine physicians during the early phase of this pandemic. DESIGN: Survey study. SETTING: Sports medicine providers. PARTICIPANTS: Physician members of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine were surveyed between March 25 and April 4, 2020. A total of 810 responses were obtained from 2437 physicians who viewed the survey. INTERVENTIONS: The survey consisted of questions examining demographics, prepandemic practice patterns, anxiety and depression screening, and new beliefs and behaviors following government-based medical policy changes resulting from the pandemic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in clinical volume and treatment practices, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). RESULTS: The mean in-person clinic visits reduced to 17.9%, telephone visits to 24.4%, telemedicine (video) visits to 21.8%, and procedural visits to 13.8% of prepandemic practice volume. The mean PHQ-4 scores for physicians were 2.38 ± 2.40. Clinic and procedural volumes were reduced less by male physicians, as well as more experienced physicians, nonphysical medicine and rehabilitation training background, in government or private practice, and in the Southern region of the United States (P < 0.05). Physicians were more likely to reduce their anti-inflammatory (37.8% decreasing vs 6.8% increasing, P < 0.001) and opioid (10.5% vs 6.8%, P = 0.003) prescriptions rather than increase. CONCLUSIONS: During the early phase of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic sports medicine physicians reported reducing in-person evaluation, management, and procedure volume by over 80%. Multiple demographic and geographic factors were associated with practice volume changes.
Authors: Kiesha Prem; Yang Liu; Timothy W Russell; Adam J Kucharski; Rosalind M Eggo; Nicholas Davies; Mark Jit; Petra Klepac Journal: Lancet Public Health Date: 2020-03-25
Authors: Yuxin Yan; Woo In Shin; Yoong Xin Pang; Yang Meng; Jianchen Lai; Chong You; Haitao Zhao; Edward Lester; Tao Wu; Cheng Heng Pang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-03-30 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu; Chung-Ying Lin; Vida Imani; Mohsen Saffari; Mark D Griffiths; Amir H Pakpour Journal: Int J Ment Health Addict Date: 2020-03-27 Impact factor: 11.555