Rheumatology Department, Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, Dumfries, UK.
Internal Medicine Department, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria.
Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Jan 5;60(1):392-398. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa600.
To identify the changes in rheumatology service delivery across the five regions of Africa from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 African Rheumatology Study Group created an online survey consisting of 40 questions relating to the current practices and experiences of rheumatologists across Africa. The CHERRIES checklist for reporting results of internet e-surveys was adhered to.
A total of 554 completed responses were received from 20 countries, which include six in Northern Africa, six in West Africa, four in Southern Africa, three in East Africa and one in Central Africa. Consultant grade rheumatologists constituted 436 (78.7%) of respondents with a mean of 14.5 ± 10.3 years of experience. A total of 77 (13.9%) rheumatologists avoided starting a new biologic. Face-to-face clinics with the use of some personal protective equipment continued to be held in only 293 (52.9%) rheumatologists' practices. Teleconsultation modalities found usage as follows: telephone in 335 (60.5%), WhatsApp in 241 (43.5%), emails in 90 (16.3%) and video calls in 53 (9.6%). Physical examinations were mostly reduced in 295 (53.3%) or done with personal protective equipment in 128 (23.1%) practices. Only 316 (57.0%) reported that the national rheumatology society in their country had produced any recommendation around COVID-19 while only 73 (13.2%) confirmed the availability of a national rheumatology COVID-19 registry in their country.
COVID-19 has shifted daily rheumatology practices across Africa to more virtual consultations and regional disparities are more apparent in the availability of local protocols and registries.
从 COVID-19 大流行的影响角度，确定非洲五个地区风湿病服务提供方面的变化。
COVID-19 非洲风湿病研究组创建了一个在线调查，其中包含 40 个问题，涉及非洲各地风湿病医生的当前实践和经验。报告互联网电子调查结果的 CHERRIES 清单得到了遵守。
共收到来自 20 个国家的 554 份完整回复，其中包括北非 6 个、西非 6 个、南非 4 个、东非 3 个和中非 1 个。顾问级风湿病医生占受访者的 436 人（78.7%），平均有 14.5±10.3 年的经验。共有 77 名（13.9%）风湿病医生避免开始使用新的生物制剂。只有 293 名（52.9%）风湿病医生的诊所继续进行面对面就诊，同时使用一些个人防护设备。调查发现以下远程咨询模式的使用情况：电话 335 次（60.5%）、WhatsApp 241 次（43.5%）、电子邮件 90 次（16.3%）和视频电话 53 次（9.6%）。295 名（53.3%）医生的体格检查大部分减少，128 名（23.1%）医生在检查时使用个人防护设备。只有 316 名（57.0%）报告称，他们所在国家的风湿病学会就 COVID-19 问题提出了任何建议，而只有 73 名（13.2%）医生确认其所在国家有国家风湿病 COVID-19 登记册。
COVID-19 已将非洲各地的日常风湿病实践更多地转移到虚拟咨询上，而且在当地协议和登记册的可用性方面，区域差异更加明显。
