Evaluation of knowledge and attitudes among intensive care physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the knowledge of intensive care physicians in Turkey about COVID-19 and their attitudes towards the strategies and application methods to be used for COVID-19 cases that need to be followed up in an intensive care unit, and to raise awareness about this issue. DESIGN AND SETTING: The population for this descriptive study comprised clinicians working in a variety of healthcare organizations in Turkey who provide monitoring and treatment within the intensive care process for COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Data were collected online using a survey form on the SurveyMonkey website between April 20 and April 25, 2020. RESULTS: The mean age of the 248 intensive care clinicians participating in the study was 37.2 ± 13.7 years and 49.19% were female. High rates of classical laryngoscope use were observed, especially among clinicians employed in state hospitals. Among all the participants, 54.8% stated that they were undecided about corticosteroid treatment for patients who had been intubated due to COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Many medications and methods are used for COVID-19 treatment. All national science committees are attempting to create standard treatment protocols. For intensive care treatment of COVID-19 patients, many factors require management, and clinicians’ experience is guiding future processes. We believe that this study will create awareness about this topic and contribute to the creation of standard treatment algorithms and the provision of better and safer healthcare services for this patient group.

【研究背景】：新型冠状病毒（COVID-19）于2019年12月在中国武汉首次出现。【研究目的】：评估土耳其重症监护医师对COVID-19的认知水平，以及其针对需在重症监护病房（intensive care unit, ICU）随访的COVID-19患者所采用的相关诊疗策略与实施方法的态度，并提升该领域的相关认知。【研究设计与场景】：本项描述性研究的研究对象为土耳其多家医疗保健机构中，负责对COVID-19患者实施重症监护过程中的监测与治疗的临床医师。【研究方法】：研究于2020年4月20日至4月25日期间，通过SurveyMonkey平台在线发放调查问卷以收集研究数据。【研究结果】：本研究共纳入248名重症监护临床医师，其平均年龄为37.2±13.7岁，女性占比49.19%。研究观察到，尤其是在公立医院就职的临床医师中，使用传统喉镜（classical laryngoscope）的比例较高。在所有参与者中，54.8%的医师表示，对于因COVID-19接受气管插管的患者，其是否采用糖皮质激素治疗仍持不确定态度。【研究结论】：当前针对COVID-19的治疗已应用多种药物与诊疗手段，各国国家科学委员会均致力于制定标准化诊疗方案。COVID-19患者的重症监护治疗涉及多维度管理，临床医师的实践经验将为后续工作提供重要指导。本研究有望提升该领域的认知水平，为制定标准化治疗算法、为该类患者群体提供更优质安全的医疗服务贡献参考价值。