Liu Siyin, Ng Jonathan K Y, Moon Emily Haejoon, Morgan Daisy, Woodhouse Natalie, Agrawal Dakshita, Chan Laura, Chhabra Ramandeep
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK.
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
Ther Adv Ophthalmol. 2022 Jan 31;14:25158414211070881. doi: 10.1177/25158414211070881. eCollection 2022 Jan-Dec.
As the primary burden of treating COVID-19 patients began to ease in the United Kingdom, ophthalmology clinic volume within the National Health Service has since recovered. Alarmingly, the rate of non-attendance remains higher than the pre-pandemic level.
The purpose was to assess how the perceived risk of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) influences the willingness of individuals with sight-threatening macular conditions to attend intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection appointments during the second wave of the pandemic.
This prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Macular Treatment Centre, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. Patients who missed their appointment in January 2021 were invited to complete an anonymous survey over the telephone. The survey consisted of two parts: (1) a 23-item questionnaire aiming to assess fear of contracting COVID-19 in different hospital-related settings; and (2) the validated COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS) to evaluate COVID-19-related anxiety.
A total of 104 patients agreed to participate in the survey. Only a small proportion of patients believed COVID-19 vaccination (23 out of 88, 26.1%) had influenced their willingness to attend injection appointments. Majority of patients felt concerned about contracting COVID-19 during hospital appointments ( = 63, 60.6%). Only a minority of patients ( = 36, 34.6%) agreed with the hospital guidance on minimising clinical examinations during clinic visit. The C-19ASS was significantly higher in female patients, those older than 70 years and those with mobility issues. Higher C-19ASS, older age and living alone were predictors of clinic nonattendance.
COVID-19 anxiety and fear of viral exposure could adversely affect patient adherence to clinic appointments during the pandemic. Particular attention should be provided to older patients, those who live alone and patients with impaired mobility. This is particularly relevant as hospital eye services across the world are in the process of restarting.
随着英国治疗新冠肺炎患者的主要负担开始减轻，国民医疗服务体系内的眼科门诊量此后有所恢复。令人担忧的是，未就诊率仍高于疫情前水平。
本研究旨在评估在第二波疫情期间，对感染2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的感知风险如何影响患有威胁视力的黄斑疾病的个体参加玻璃体内抗血管内皮生长因子（抗VEGF）注射预约的意愿。
这项前瞻性横断面调查在曼彻斯特皇家眼科医院黄斑治疗中心进行。邀请2021年1月错过预约的患者通过电话完成一项匿名调查。该调查包括两部分：（1）一份23项问卷，旨在评估在不同医院相关环境中对感染COVID-19的恐惧；（2）经过验证的COVID-19焦虑综合征量表（C-19ASS），以评估与COVID-19相关的焦虑。
共有104名患者同意参与调查。只有一小部分患者认为COVID-19疫苗接种（88名中的23名，26.1%）影响了他们参加注射预约的意愿。大多数患者担心在医院预约期间感染COVID-19（n = 63，60.6%）。只有少数患者（n = 36，34.6%）同意医院关于在门诊就诊时尽量减少临床检查的指导意见。女性患者、70岁以上患者和有行动不便问题的患者的C-19ASS显著更高。C-19ASS得分较高、年龄较大和独居是未就诊的预测因素。
COVID-19焦虑和对病毒暴露的恐惧可能会对疫情期间患者遵守门诊预约产生不利影响。应特别关注老年患者、独居患者和行动不便的患者。随着世界各地的医院眼科服务正在重启，这一点尤为重要。
