Thoracic Research and Practice
Original Article

The Perspective of the Turkish Thoracic Society Members on Institutional Preparedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey

1.

Occupational Diseases Clinic, Ankara Occupational and Environmental Diseases Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

2.

Occupational Diseases Clinic, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

3.

Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Yeni Yüzyil University, İstanbul, Turkey

4.

Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Düzce University, Düzce, Turkey

Thorac Res Pract 2021; 22: 317-323
DOI: 10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2021.20296
Read: 740 Downloads: 838 Published: 01 July 2021

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the perspective of the Turkish Thoracic Society (TTS) members regarding institutional preparedness, in terms of administrative measures and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), in the first and third months of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Turkey.

Material and Methods: A 22-item online survey was e-mailed between the first and third months to TTS members, and participants’ responses were evaluated.

Results: The number of participants was 295 in the first survey and 141 in the second. In the second survey, the percentage of answers implying availability increased in all 18 control measures, 16 of which were statistically significant. However, there were still less than half of the respondents who reported the availability of psychological and behavioral support and some PPE, including respirators, facial protectors, goggles, and gowns. Statistical significance was observed for provision of a waiting area (P = .008), rooms for aerosol-generating procedures (P = .042), and special wards for patients with suspected or definite COVID-19 (P < .001); testing healthcare workers (HCWs) with a history of contact with a COVID-19 case (P < .001); and surveillance of symptomatic HCWs (P = .048), between tertiary vs. primary and secondary healthcare facilities in the first survey, but provision of special wards (P = .002) and supply for aprons (P = .027) in the second survey.

Conclusion: Our results showed an improvement in control measures in the third month of the pandemic. However, the persistent low availability of psychological and behavioral support and several items of PPE pointed out the need for action. Considering the health and safety of HCWs, the control measures should be actively monitored and deficiencies eliminated.

Cite this article as: Sandal A, Nur Töreyin Z, Saltürk C, Meram Arbak P. The perspective of the turkish thoracic society members on institutional preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic in turkey. Turk Thorac J. 2021; 22(4): 317-323.224

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