The duties of dermatologists during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey: Results of a nation-wide survey

Abstract

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a reorganization of health services throughout many countries. In this study, we aimed to get an overview of the duties of the dermatologists during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. In light of the results, we aimed to determine the aspects of Turkish dermatology practice which might require innovation. Methods: Dermatologists across Turkey were asked to fill in an online 11-item questionnaire survey, investigating their duty/duties (dermatology outpatient and inpatient clinics, pandemic outpatient and inpatient clinics, emergency, etc.) month by month during March-June 2020. Results: A total of 217 dermatologists participated in the survey. Vast majority (91-98%) of the participants reported that they performed dermatology outpatient visits. While 41.5-56.2% of participants were redeployed to pandemic inpatient clinics, 12.9-29% were mobilized to pandemic outpatient clinics. Each month, at least 90% of the residents that participated in the questionnaire reported that they were recruited to pandemic inpatient clinics. Conclusion: As the impact of COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing in Turkey, these data should be taken into consideration to rapidly implement new measures in Turkish dermatology practices such as a referral system for dermatology outpatient visits to equitably distribute dermatology services, widespread use of telemedicine, and virtual educations of residents.