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Health care access of thyroid disease patients in Serbia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zarkovic, M; Perros, P; Ciric, J; Beleslin, B; Stojanovic, M; Stojkovic, M; Miletic, M; Janic, T.
  • Zarkovic M; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. milos.zarkovic@med.bg.ac.rs.
  • Perros P; Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, University Clinical Centre, Dr Subotica starijeg 13, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia. milos.zarkovic@med.bg.ac.rs.
  • Ciric J; Department of Endocrinology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Beleslin B; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
  • Stojanovic M; Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, University Clinical Centre, Dr Subotica starijeg 13, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
  • Stojkovic M; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
  • Miletic M; Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, University Clinical Centre, Dr Subotica starijeg 13, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
  • Janic T; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
J Endocrinol Invest ; 45(8): 1521-1526, 2022 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1756988
ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of repurposing health care facilities in response to COVID-19 on the access of patients with thyroid disease to health care.

METHODS:

This study consisted of a web-based survey. The survey was anonymous and consisted of forty questions.

RESULTS:

This survey included 206 respondents. 91.3% of the respondents had health insurance through the Republic Fund of Health Insurance, 9.7% had private or both health insurances, and 3.4% did not have any health insurance. A significant proportion of respondents (60.4%) had to switch from public to private health care to reach a physician and 73.8% had to switch from public to private laboratories. For the 91.9%, this was perceived as a financial burden. Before the pandemic, 83.1% of respondents reported regular follow-up by physicians, which decreased to 44.9% during the pandemic (p < 0.01). 76.3% of the respondents regarded that their thyroid disease was managed optimally before the pandemic, while this figure declined to only 48% during the pandemic (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the medical care of thyroid patients in Serbia. For the patients treated in the public health care system, access to general practice was hindered, while access to specialist care was disrupted. It led to a switch from public to private health care, which was perceived as a financial burden for almost all the respondents. However, private health care proved to be an important safety net when the public system was overwhelmed.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Thyroid Diseases / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Thyroid Diseases / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Year: 2022 Document Type: Article