Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Ophthalmologists in Cairo University Hospitals

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To assess the concerns of the residents and young ophthalmologists as well as the change in their practice during the COVID era.

Design

This is an cross-sectional study.

Methods

A questionnaire was directed to the young Ophthalmologists of Ophthalmology department in Cairo University hospitals. The primary outcome measures were the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology practice.

Results

Seventy-nine young Ophthalmologists responded to the questionnaire, with an age ranging from 24 to 36 years of age of which 57% were females. They all practiced Ophthalmology from less than one year up to 9 years long, with 55.8% of them feeling unlucky starting ophthalmic practice during this era, 7.6% are extremely anxious regarding their psychological concern about the pandemic, and some feel they need psychological assessment especially those with 1–3 years duration of practice (41.2%) (p = .011), especially females (82.4%, p = .015). As for access to PPE, 94.9% are wearing masks in the clinic, but only 8.9% of patients are wearing masks. Before this lockdown, 16.7% of the enrolled candidates attended on line lectures and webinars, but since then, this has significantly surged to 80.5% (p < .001).

Conclusion

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, as with everybody else, our young ophthalmologists have been affected on many different levels; psychologically, education and practice levels.

KEYWORDS:

• Cairo University hospitals
• COVID-19
• young ophthalmologists
• personal protective equipment (PPE)
• pandemic

COMPETING INTEREST

The authors report no competing interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The Authors have no financial or proprietary interest in any product mentioned in this paper. This submission has not been published anywhere previously and that it is not simultaneously being considered for any other publication.