The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Original Article

Factors Affecting Gastroenterologists’ Fear When Performing Endoscopies during the COVID Pandemic: Results of a US National Survey

Authors: Reem Q. Al Shabeeb MD, Esther Lee DO, Muhammad El Shatanofy MD, Erika Pashai MD, Ivy Benjenk PhD, Marian Sherman MD, Eric Heinz MD, PhD, David Yamane MD, Marie L. Borum MD, EdD, MPH

Abstract

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected the practice of gastroenterology. Endoscopic procedures are aerosolizing procedures that carry the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Our national survey examined factors affecting gastroenterologists’ fear of contracting COVID-19 during endoscopy.

Methods: An institutional review board–approved multicenter cross-sectional study used a snowball sample approach to disseminate a 42-question survey to gastroenterologists during a 3-month period in 2021, during the height of the pandemic. Physician demographics, information about personal protective equipment (PPE), negative pressure rooms, and COVID-19 vaccination status was collected. Likert scales were used to evaluate gastroenterologists’ fear when performing endoscopy. Analysis was performed using Pearson’s χ2, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon rank tests, with significance set at P < 0.05.

Results: Results from 69 respondents showed that 91.3% believed that PPE was adequate, 52.2% had PPE education and training, and 47.8% reported that PPE education decreased their fear of contracting COVID-19 during endoscopy. Fear decreased from first to subsequent endoscopies (P < 0.0005) and after COVID-19 vaccination (P < 0.0005). Higher levels of fear were associated with having comorbid conditions (P = 0.048), being the primary caregiver for or living with a person 65 years old or older (P = 0.041), having had to quarantine during the pandemic (P = 0.017), having not performed a procedure because of infectious risks (P = 0.005), and living with someone with comorbid conditions (P = 0.001).

Conclusions: Multiple factors affect gastroenterologists’ fear of contracting COVID-19 during endoscopic procedures. Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic about mitigating gastroenterologists’ fear are potentially applicable to future circumstances that may be associated with significant infectious concerns.
Posted in: Infectious Disease156

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1. Kaye AD, Okeagu CN, Pham AD, et al. Economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare facilities and systems: international perspectives. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2021;35:293–306. .
 
2. Bergrath S, Strapatsas T, Tuemen M, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency medical resources: an observational multicenter study including all hospitals in a major urban center of the Rhein-Ruhr metropolitan region. Anaesthesiologie 2022;71(Suppl 2):171–179.
 
3. Perisetti A, Goyal, H. Successful distancing: telemedicine in gastroenterology and hepatology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dig Dis Sci 2021;66:945–953.
 
4. Francisco CP, Cua IH, Aguila EJ, et al. Moving forward: gradual return of gastroenterology practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dig Dis 2021;39:140–149.
 
5. Saha BK, Saha S, Chong WH, et al. Indications, clinical utility, and safety of bronchoscopy in COVID-19. Resp Care 2022;67:241–251.
 
6. Klompas M, Milton DK, Rhee C, et al. Current insights into respiratory virus transmission and potential implications for infection control programs: a narrative review. Ann Intern Med 2021;174:1710–1718.
 
7. Garbey M, Joerger G, Furr S. Gastroenterology procedures generate aerosols: an air quality turnover solution to mitigate COVID-19’s propagation risk. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17:8780.
 
8. American College of Gastroenterology. COVID-19 clinical insights for our community of gastroenterologists and gastroenterology care providers. https://gi.org/2020/03/15/joint-gi-society-message-on-covid-19/. Published March 15, 2020. Accessed December 13, 2024.
 
9. Lee E, Al Shabeeb RQ, El Shatanofy M, et al. Factors affecting providers' comfort and fear during intubations of patients with COVID-19. Emerg Med J 2023;40:96–100.
 
10. Al Shabeeb RQ, Lee E, El Shatanofy M, et al (2022). Impact of COVID-19 specific simulation training in improving intubators’ level of comfort during intubations of COVID-19 patients - results from a USA national survey. Trends Anaesth Crit Care, 2022;43:17–22.
 
11. Moraveji S, Thaker AM, Muthusamy VR, et al. Protocols, personal protective equipment use, and psychological/financial stressors in endoscopy units during the COVID-19 pandemic: a large survey of hospital-based and ambulatory endoscopy centers in the United States. Gastroenterology 2020;159:1568-1570.e5.
 
12. Khan R, Tandon P, Scaffidi MA et al. COVID-19 and Canadian gastroenterology trainees. J Can Assoc Gastroenterol 2020;4:156-162.