Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiology in Inpatient and Outpatient Care in Germany: A Nationwide Survey Regarding the First and Second Wave

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiology in Inpatient and Outpatient Care in Germany: A Nationwide Survey Regarding the First and Second Wave

AU - Bernatz, Simon

AU - Afat, Saif

AU - Othman, Ahmed E

AU - Nikolaou, Konstantin

AU - Sieren, Malte

AU - Sähn, Marwin-Jonathan

AU - Pinto Dos Santos, Daniel

AU - Penzkofer, Tobias

AU - Bucher, Andreas Michael

AU - Hamm, Bernd

AU - Vogl, Thomas J

AU - Bodelle, Boris

AU - RACOON Consortium

AU - Adam, Gerhard

N1 - Thieme. All rights reserved.

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - OBJECTIVES: To find out the opinion of radiological inpatient and outpatient medical staff regarding the measures taken in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic during the first and second waves and to identify the measures that are still perceived as needing improvement.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an anonymous online survey among more than 10 000 radiologists/technicians in Germany from January 5 to January 31, 2021. A total of 862 responses (head physicians, n = 225 [inpatient doctors, n = 138; outpatient doctors, n = 84; N/A, n = 3]; radiologic personnel, n = 637 [inpatient doctor, n = 303; outpatient doctor, n = 50; inpatient technician, n = 217; outpatient technician, n = 26; N/A, n = 41]) were received. Questions of approximation, yes/no questions, and Likert scales were used.RESULTS: During the first/second wave, 70 % (86/123)/43 % (45/104) of inpatient and 26 % (17/66)/10 % (5/52) of outpatient head physicians agreed that they received financial support from the authorities but the majority rated the financial support as insufficient. During the first and second wave, 33 % (8/24) and 80 % (16/20) of outpatient technicians agreed that they were adequately provided with personal protective equipment. The perceived lack of personal protective equipment improved for all participants during the second wave. Inpatient [outpatient] technicians perceived an increased workload in the first and second wave: 72 % (142/198) [79 % (19/24)] and 84 % (146/174) [80 % (16/20)].CONCLUSION: Technicians seem increasingly negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Financial support by the competent authorities seems to be in need of improvement.KEY POINTS: · The accessibility of personal protective equipment resources improved in the second wave.. · In particular, radiology technicians seem increasingly negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.. · Financial and consulting support from the government could be improved..CITATION FORMAT: · Bernatz S, Afat S, Othman AE et al. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiology in Inpatient and Outpatient Care in Germany: A Nationwide Survey Regarding the First and Second Wave. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2022; 194: 70 - 82.

AB - OBJECTIVES: To find out the opinion of radiological inpatient and outpatient medical staff regarding the measures taken in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic during the first and second waves and to identify the measures that are still perceived as needing improvement.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an anonymous online survey among more than 10 000 radiologists/technicians in Germany from January 5 to January 31, 2021. A total of 862 responses (head physicians, n = 225 [inpatient doctors, n = 138; outpatient doctors, n = 84; N/A, n = 3]; radiologic personnel, n = 637 [inpatient doctor, n = 303; outpatient doctor, n = 50; inpatient technician, n = 217; outpatient technician, n = 26; N/A, n = 41]) were received. Questions of approximation, yes/no questions, and Likert scales were used.RESULTS: During the first/second wave, 70 % (86/123)/43 % (45/104) of inpatient and 26 % (17/66)/10 % (5/52) of outpatient head physicians agreed that they received financial support from the authorities but the majority rated the financial support as insufficient. During the first and second wave, 33 % (8/24) and 80 % (16/20) of outpatient technicians agreed that they were adequately provided with personal protective equipment. The perceived lack of personal protective equipment improved for all participants during the second wave. Inpatient [outpatient] technicians perceived an increased workload in the first and second wave: 72 % (142/198) [79 % (19/24)] and 84 % (146/174) [80 % (16/20)].CONCLUSION: Technicians seem increasingly negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Financial support by the competent authorities seems to be in need of improvement.KEY POINTS: · The accessibility of personal protective equipment resources improved in the second wave.. · In particular, radiology technicians seem increasingly negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.. · Financial and consulting support from the government could be improved..CITATION FORMAT: · Bernatz S, Afat S, Othman AE et al. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiology in Inpatient and Outpatient Care in Germany: A Nationwide Survey Regarding the First and Second Wave. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2022; 194: 70 - 82.

KW - Ambulatory Care

KW - COVID-19

KW - Germany

KW - Humans

KW - Inpatients

KW - Pandemics

KW - Radiology

KW - SARS-CoV-2

U2 - 10.1055/a-1586-3278

DO - 10.1055/a-1586-3278

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 34649286

VL - 194

SP - 70

EP - 82

JO - ROFO-FORTSCHR RONTG

JF - ROFO-FORTSCHR RONTG

SN - 1438-9029

IS - 1

ER -