"COVID-19: The final nail in coffin for physical examination'' Evaluation of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on physical examination habits of residents in a university hospital: a cross-sectional survey.

Erdevir, Mehmet; Uyaroğlu, Oğuz Abdullah; Özdede, Murat; Tanrıover, Mine Durusu

AIMS It is evident that COVID-19 pandemic have affected the medical practice and training of residents. In this study, we evaluated the physical examination (PE) habits of residents working in a university hospital and how their PE practices did change during the pandemic. METHODS This single-center, non-interventional, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a university hospital using an online survey questionnaire between 5-20 October 2020. RESULTS Of the 308 residents who participated in the study, 172 of them (55.8%) were female and the median age was 27 (IQR (3) = Q1 (29) - Q3 (26)). Among all, 263 participants (85.4%) declared that they have worked in the areas where suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patients were being served. A total of 262 (85%) residents stated that PE habits have changed generally during the pandemic. There was a significant difference with regards to the change in PE habits between those residents who have worked in the COVID-19 areas (n=230,87.5%) and those who have not (n=32, 71.1%) (p=0.004). PE habits of Internal Medicine Residents were changed more than others (p<0.001). The main reason for the change in PE habits in general (77.9%) and during the examination of suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patients (89.7%) were ''self-protection''. Independent factors for limited PE in suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patients were found as ''Avoiding performing physical examination to be exposed less/to protect (adjusted ORs=13.067)'', relying on laboratory and radiologic investigations during practice (adjusted ORs=4.358)'', and ''not having a thought that reduced physical examination will render the diagnosis and course of COVID-19 (adjusted ORs=2.244)''. CONCLUSIONS This study clearly demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on the PE habits of the residents while examing patients in general and with COVID-19.