THE RESPONSES OF RADIOLOGY PROFESSIONALS TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate radiology professionals' response to the impact of COVID-19 on professional practice. In addition, the fear and anxiety levels experienced by this workforce during the pandemic process were investigated. Material and Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted. The questionnaire covered information on demographic characteristics, the Coronavirus Overviews and Impacts, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Logistic regression was used to model the relationship between CAS and Fear scores and variables. Data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (v.24). Results: A total of 290 responses were received, comprising 21.7% radiologists and 78.3% technicians. The key contributor factors to work-related stress were found to be the fear of COVID-19 infection, with 63.8%, the increase in workload, with 17.6% and inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), with 11%. The percentages of anxiety were 75.6% for technician and 24.4% for radiologist. It was found that there was a significant association between CAS score and the gender variable (p=0.030<0.05), and similarly, between Fear score and gender (p-value=0.003) and age (p-value=0.080) variables. The women are 2.205 times more likely to be anxious than men (p=0.033) and 2.106 times more likely to be fear (p=0.003). Conclusion: Almost half of the participants reported adequate PPE availability during the study period. Despite this, most feared being infected with COVID-19. Therefore, it is important to provide timely and adequate personnel training, adequate availability of PPE and regular psychosocial support for radiology professinals, during future pandemics.