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. 2020 Apr 21;162(6):1229–1240. doi: 10.1007/s00701-020-04342-5

Table 3.

Univariable comparisons of factors influencing personal views on the neurosurgeon’s practice in response to COVID-19. USA, United States of America; GDP, gross domestic product; LMIC, low- and middle-income country; COVID-19, 2019 novel coronavirus; n, number; p value, probability value; %, percent

Personal view p value
Business as usual Leave it to my discretion whether to cancel surgeries/clinic Cancel some elective surgeries/clinic Cancel all elective surgeries/clinic
GDP per capita, n/n (%) 0.002
  LMIC 2/54 (3.7) 11/54 (20.4) 10/54 (18.5) 31/54 (57.4)
  Non-LMIC 14/429 (3.3) 26/429 (6.1) 119/429 (27.6) 270/429 (63.0)
Practice setting, n/n (%) 0.003
  Non-profit charity/academic/government-employed 11/311 (3.5) 14/311 (4.5) 84/311 (27.0) 202/311 (65.0)
  For-profit/private practice 5/102 (4.9) 17/102 (16.7) 25/102 (24.5) 55/102 (53.9)
  Mixed 1/79 (1.3) 10/79 (12.7) 23/79 (29.0) 45/79 (57.0)
Number of COVID-19 cases in my country, n/n (%) 0.018
  < 1000 10/211 (4.7) 24/211 (11.4) 53/211 (25.1) 124/211 (58.8)
  1001–5000 5/125 (4.0) 4/125 (3.2) 44/125 (35.2) 72/125 (57.6)
  > 5000 2/154 (1.3) 13/154 (8.5) 35/154 (22.7) 104/154 (67.5)
Response of restaurants and shops to COVID-19 in my country, n/n (%) < 0.001
  Business as usual 7/51 (13.7) 7/51(13.7) 16/51 (31.4) 21/51 (41.2)
  A few/many have closed but some remain open 10/249 (4.0) 24/249 (9.6) 68/249 (27.3) 147/249 (59.0)
  Completely shut down by the government (with few exceptions) 0/192 (0.0) 10/192 (5.2) 48/192 (25.0) 134/192 (69.8)
Training about COVID-19, n/n (%) 0.157
  I have not dedicated time to learn about COVID-19 1/33 (3.0) 2/33 (6.0) 15/33 (45.5) 15/33 (45.5)
  I learned on my own; I know enough to make professional decisions related to COVID-19 11/315 (3.5) 30/315 (9.5) 74/315 (23.5) 200/315 (63.5)
  I received formal training which my hospital/university required 5/141 (3.6) 9/141 (6.4) 43/141 (30.5) 84/141 (59.6)
Hospital policy on COVID-19, n/n (%) < 0.001
  Business as usual 13/55 (23.7) 7/55 (12.7) 12/55 (21.8) 23/55 (41.8)
  Postponement left to discretion of the surgeon; no formal policy in place 2/58 (3.4) 15/58 (25.9) 15/58 (25.9) 26/58 (44.8)
  Some or all elective surgeries/clinic are postponed 2/378 (0.5) 19/378 (5.0) 105/378 (27.8) 252/378 (66.7)

Odds ratio > 1 = positive independent predictor and < 1 = negative independent predictor of hospital cancelation of some or all surgeries