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.