COVID-19 Risk Management: a Survey among Italian physicians
V. 174 N. 2 (2023), Observational Study
V. 174 N. 2 (2023)

COVID-19 Risk Management: a Survey among Italian physicians: doi: 10.7417/CT.2023.2515

Observational Study
Pubblicato 2023-03-14
D. Morena
Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy
G. Delogu
Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy
G. Volonnino
Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy
S. Alessandrini
Coordinamento Medico-Legale INPS Regione Lazio, Rome, Italy
M. A. A. Karaboue
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
M. Arcangeli
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
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Parole chiave

COVID-19
emergency
survey
medical liability
defensive medicine
guidelines

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic had a significant global impact on public health. The increasing demand for intensive care and the closure of several health facilities has led to a reduction in the assistance of non-COVID patients. In our study, we investigated what changes health professionals have experienced in their professional activity and how they coped with them.

A questionnaire was sent to 146 doctors, focused on three subjects: type of activity carried out during the pandemic; use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and recourse to vaccination; current medical liability profiles related to COVID-19.

The questionnaire was completed by 111 doctors. Most of them assisted potentially positive patients, which also imposed derogations on their safety. Most of the complaints were about the low adequacy of PPE provision and about the compromission of specialist medical care.

The interest in safety among participants was revealed by the high compliance to vaccination, with almost complete coverage. Finally, concern was expressed about the risks associated with an environment characterized by limited resources and legal risks.

In conclusion, this survey tried to contribute to the identification of the main problems presented by health care professionals. Their versatility was a crucial element for the management of the pandemic, but also highlighted the need for health institutions to prepare pandemic plans in the future, with an adequate and constant updating. Concerns were raised regarding financial deficits and legal protection. Political decisions must be entrusted to enhance medical assistance and to avoid the increasing phenomenon of defensive medicine.

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