Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anxiety Level, Patient Approach and Oropharyngeal Examination in Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics: A Nationwide Descriptive Study in Turkey

Nazife Alpman; Hüsna Sarıca Çevik; Yavuzalp Solak

Makale detayları

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anxiety Level, Patient Approach and Oropharyngeal Examination in Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics: A Nationwide Descriptive Study in Turkey

Yazarlar:

Nazife Alpman | Hüsna Sarıca Çevik | Yavuzalp Solak

Yayıncı:

Kirsehir Ahi Evran University

Ana Başlıklar:

Klinik Tıp Bilimleri (Diğer)

Dergi:

Ahi Evran Tıp Dergisi Vol.8 Issue 2, pp.194-200

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2024

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001324055

pISSN:

2619-9203

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Purpose: Although numerous publications on the effects of COVID-19 on mental health exist, limited data exists on how these effects affect physicians approaches to patients. This study aimed to evaluate family physicians FPs approach to the physical examination of patients who applied to family medicine FM outpatient clinics with upper respiratory tract infection URTI symptoms, the influencing factors, and the relationship with FPs anxiety levels. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire form containing sociodemographic information, probable case scenarios evaluating the physicians approach to patients with URTI symptoms at different ages, and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale CAS sent to FPs between 19.03.2022-25.04.2022. Results: The study included a total of 376 FPs. FPs reported conducting oropharyngeal and respiratory system examinations in 99 of patients presenting with URTI symptoms before the pandemic. However, avoidance behaviors such as directing patients to COVID-19 testing centers before examination increased during the pandemic, leading to lower rates of oropharyngeal and lung examinations. According to CAS scores, 5.1 of FPs exhibited coronavirus-related dysfunctional anxiety levels requiring treatment. Oropharyngeal examination, use of tongue depressors, and lung auscultation were significantly lower in the anxiety group p0.002, p0.012, p0.001, respectively. Conclusions: Although FPs mean CAS scores were low, it was determined that oropharyngeal examination rates of different age groups of patients were decreased, particularly among physicians experiencing coronavirus-related anxiety. To prevent the continuation of avoidance behaviors from physical examinations post-pandemic, it is crucial to support the biopsychosocial well-being of physicians and identify their needs.

 Purpose: Although numerous publications on the effects of COVID-19 on mental health exist, limited data exists on how these effects affect physicians approaches to patients. This study aimed to evaluate family physicians FPs approach to the physical examination of patients who applied to family medicine FM outpatient clinics with upper respiratory tract infection URTI symptoms, the influencing factors, and the relationship with FPs anxiety levels. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire form containing sociodemographic information, probable case scenarios evaluating the physicians approach to patients with URTI symptoms at different ages, and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale CAS sent to FPs between 19.03.2022-25.04.2022. Results: The study included a total of 376 FPs. FPs reported conducting oropharyngeal and respiratory system examinations in 99 of patients presenting with URTI symptoms before the pandemic. However, avoidance behaviors such as directing patients to COVID-19 testing centers before examination increased during the pandemic, leading to lower rates of oropharyngeal and lung examinations. According to CAS scores, 5.1 of FPs exhibited coronavirus-related dysfunctional anxiety levels requiring treatment. Oropharyngeal examination, use of tongue depressors, and lung auscultation were significantly lower in the anxiety group p0.002, p0.012, p0.001, respectively. Conclusions: Although FPs mean CAS scores were low, it was determined that oropharyngeal examination rates of different age groups of patients were decreased, particularly among physicians experiencing coronavirus-related anxiety. To prevent the continuation of avoidance behaviors from physical examinations post-pandemic, it is crucial to support the biopsychosocial well-being of physicians and identify their needs.

 Purpose: Although numerous publications on the effects of COVID-19 on mental health exist, limited data exists on how these effects affect physicians approaches to patients. This study aimed to evaluate family physicians FPs approach to the physical examination of patients who applied to family medicine FM outpatient clinics with upper respiratory tract infection URTI symptoms, the influencing factors, and the relationship with FPs anxiety levels. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire form containing sociodemographic information, probable case scenarios evaluating the physicians approach to patients with URTI symptoms at different ages, and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale CAS sent to FPs between 19.03.2022-25.04.2022. Results: The study included a total of 376 FPs. FPs reported conducting oropharyngeal and respiratory system examinations in 99 of patients presenting with URTI symptoms before the pandemic. However, avoidance behaviors such as directing patients to COVID-19 testing centers before examination increased during the pandemic, leading to lower rates of oropharyngeal and lung examinations. According to CAS scores, 5.1 of FPs exhibited coronavirus-related dysfunctional anxiety levels requiring treatment. Oropharyngeal examination, use of tongue depressors, and lung auscultation were significantly lower in the anxiety group p0.002, p0.012, p0.001, respectively. Conclusions: Although FPs mean CAS scores were low, it was determined that oropharyngeal examination rates of different age groups of patients were decreased, particularly among physicians experiencing coronavirus-related anxiety. To prevent the continuation of avoidance behaviors from physical examinations post-pandemic, it is crucial to support the biopsychosocial well-being of physicians and identify their needs.

 Amaç: COVID-19un ruh sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerine ilişkin çok sayıda yayın bulunmasına rağmen, bu etkilerin hekimlerin hastalara yaklaşımını nasıl etkilediğine ilişkin veriler sınırlıdır. Bu çalışmada aile hekimliği AH polikliniklerine üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonu belirtileri ile başvuran hastaların fizik muayenesine aile hekimlerinin yaklaşımı, etkileyen faktörler ve aile hekimlerinin anksiyete düzeyi ile ilişkisinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı. Araçlar ve Yöntem: 19.03.2022-25.04.2022 arasında aile hekimlerine sosyodemografik bilgiler, farklı yaşlardaki üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonu semptomları olan hastalara hekimlerin yaklaşımını değerlendiren olası vaka senaryoları ve Koronavirus Anksiyete Ölçeğini içeren online anket formu gönderildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya toplam 376 aile hekimi dahil edildi. Aile hekimleri, pandemi öncesi üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonu semptomlarıyla başvuran hastaların 99una orofarenks ve solunum sistemi muayenesi yaptıklarını bildirmişti. Ancak pandemiyle birlikte hastayı muayene öncesi COVID-19 test merkezine yönlendirmek gibi kaçınma davranışlarının arttığı, orofarenks ve akciğer muayenelerinin daha düşük oranlarda yapıldığı bildirilmiştir. Koronavirus Anksiyete Ölçeği skorlarına göre aile hekimlerinin 5.1inde tedavi gerektirebilecek düzeyde koronavirüs ile ilişkili işlevsiz anksiyete mevcuttu. Orofaringeal muayene, dil basacağı kullanımı ve akciğer oskültasyonu anksiyete grubunda daha düşüktü sırasıyla p0.002; p0.012; p0.001. Sonuç: Aile hekimlerinin Koronavirus Anksiyete Ölçeği skorları düşük olmasına rağmen, koronavirüs ilişkili anksiyetesi mevcut olan hekimlerde daha fazla olmak üzere, farklı yaş gruplarında orofarengeal muayene oranlarının azaldığı belirlendi. Pandemi sonrasında fizik muayeneden kaçınma davranışının devam etmesini önlemek için hekimlerin biyopsikososyal iyilik halleri desteklenmeli ve ihtiyaçları belirlenmelidir.

Makale detayları

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anxiety Level, Patient Approach and Oropharyngeal Examination in Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics: A Nationwide Descriptive Study in Turkey

Yazarlar:

Nazife Alpman | Hüsna Sarıca Çevik | Yavuzalp Solak

Yayıncı:

Kirsehir Ahi Evran University

Ana Başlıklar:

Klinik Tıp Bilimleri (Diğer)

Dergi:

Ahi Evran Tıp Dergisi Vol.8 Issue 2, pp.194-200

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2024

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001324055

pISSN:

2619-9203

family medicine

physical examination

SARS-CoV-2aile hekimliği

fizik muayene

SARS-CoV-2

Sayı

Makale detayları

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anxiety Level, Patient Approach and Oropharyngeal Examination in Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics: A Nationwide Descriptive Study in Turkey

Yazarlar: Nazife Alpman | Hüsna Sarıca Çevik | Yavuzalp Solak

Yayıncı: Kirsehir Ahi Evran University

Ana Başlıklar: Klinik Tıp Bilimleri (Diğer)

Dergi: Ahi Evran Tıp Dergisi Vol.8 Issue 2, pp.194-200

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 8/2024

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001324055

pISSN: 2619-9203

family medicine

physical examination

SARS-CoV-2aile hekimliği

fizik muayene

SARS-CoV-2

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Nazife Alpman | Hüsna Sarıca Çevik | Yavuzalp Solak

Yayıncı:

Kirsehir Ahi Evran University

Ana Başlıklar:

Klinik Tıp Bilimleri (Diğer)

Dergi:

Ahi Evran Tıp Dergisi Vol.8 Issue 2, pp.194-200

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2024

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001324055

pISSN:

2619-9203