ABSTRACT
Background: Medical workers, including surgical professionals working in COVID-19 treating hospitals, were under enormous stress during The pandemic. This global study investigated factors endowing COVID amongst surgical professionals and students. Method(s): This global cross-sectional survey was made live on The 18th of February, 2021, and closed for analysis on The 13th of March, 2021. It was freely shared on social and scientific media platforms. It was also sent via email groups and circulated through a personal network of authors. Chi-square test for independence, binary logistic regression analysis was carried on determining predictors of surgical professionals contracting COVID-19. Result(s): This survey captured The response of 520 respondents from 66 countries. 92.29% (503/545) were working in ahospital receiving patients with COVID-19. More than one-fourth (25.5%) caught COVID-19, which was more frequent in participants working in public sector hospitals (P=0.001). 75.7% of those who did not contract COVID (283/376) were vaccinated (P<0.001). Surgical professionals undergoing practice in The private sector (OR: 0.33;95% CI: 0.14-0.77;p=0.011) and getting two doses of vaccines (OR: 0.55;95% CI: 0.32-0.95;p=0.031) had decreased odds of contracting COVID-19. only 6.9% of those who reported not contracting COVID-19 (26/376) were calculated to have The highest Level of Harm score (LH4) (P<0.001). Conclusion(s): High prevalence of respondents caught COVID-19, which was more frequent in participants working in public sector hospitals. Self-isolation or shield, getting two doses of vaccines decreases The odds of contracting COVID-19. Those who reported contracting COVID-19 were calculated to have The highest Level of Harm score.