TABLE 2.
COVID-19 Response
| Fellows (n=45) | #/Mean | %/SD | Fellowship Directors (n=25) | #/Mean | %/SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start date of COVID precautions | Start date of COVID precautions | ||||
| Before March 1st | 2 | 4.4 | Before March 1st | 1 | 4.0 |
| March 1–14 | 21 | 46.7 | March 1–14 | 12 | 48.0 |
| March 15–31 | 21 | 46.7 | March 15–31 | 12 | 48.0 |
| April 1st to present | 1 | 2.2 | April 1st to Present | 0 | 0.0 |
| No changes made | 0 | 0.0 | No changes made | 0 | 0.0 |
| Elective cases cancelled | 45 | 100.0 | Elective cases cancelled | 25 | 0.0 |
| Decrease in overall institution case volume | Decrease in overall institution case volume | ||||
| 0–25% | 2 | 4.4 | 0–25% | 1 | 4.0 |
| 26%–50% | 15 | 33.3 | 26%–50% | 3 | 12.0 |
| 51%–75% | 12 | 26.7 | 51%–75% | 10 | 40.0 |
| >75% | 16 | 35.6 | >75% | 11 | 44.0 |
| Mean hours worked per week before COVID | 64.8 | 14.6 | Mean hours fellows worked per week before COVID | 66.4 | 10.5 |
| Mean hours worked per week during COVID | 28.4 | 17.7 | Mean hours fellows worked per week during COVID | 28.2 | 15.6 |
| Assisting with non–spine-related care | Fellows assisting with non–spine-related care | ||||
| Yes | 11 | 24.4 | Yes | 3 | 12.0 |
| No | 34 | 75.6 | No | 22 | 88.0 |
| Satisfied with current precautions* | Satisfied with current precautions | ||||
| Yes | 38 | 86.4 | Yes | 24 | 96.0 |
| No | 6 | 13.6 | No | 1 | 4.0 |
| Types of precautions taken* | Types of precautions taken | ||||
| OR guidelines for COVID patients | 41 | 93.2 | OR guidelines for COVID patients | 20 | 80.0 |
| N95 for all COVID positive patients | 24 | 54.6 | N95 for all COVID positive patients | 17 | 68.0 |
| N95 for all untested patients | 17 | 38.6 | N95 for all untested patients | 11 | 44.0 |
| Extended OR turnover time | 28 | 63.6 | Extended OR turnover time | 17 | 68.0 |
| Limiting number of learners in cases | 28 | 63.6 | Limiting number of learners in cases | 14 | 56.0 |
| Testing of all patients before OR | 26 | 59.1 | Testing of all patients before OR | 15 | 60.0 |
| Other | 1 | 2.3 | Other | 3 | 12.0 |
| Additional precautions considered but not implemented* | Additional precautions considered but not implemented | ||||
| Yes | 4 | 9.1 | Yes | 5 | 20.0 |
| No | 40 | 90.9 | No | 20 | 80.0 |
| Has safety been compromised during COVID* | Has safety been compromised during COVID | ||||
| Yes | 10 | 22.7 | Yes | 3 | 12.0 |
| No | 34 | 77.3 | No | 22 | 88.0 |
| Frequency of COVID communication with fellowship director* | Frequency of COVID communication with fellow | ||||
| Bi-weekly | 9 | 20.5 | Bi-weekly | 0 | 0.0 |
| Weekly | 26 | 59.1 | Weekly | 9 | 36.0 |
| Daily | 8 | 18.2 | Daily | 15 | 60.0 |
| Multiple times a day | 1 | 2.3 | Multiple times a day | 1 | 4.0 |
| Provisions to deal with stress* | Provisions to deal with stress | ||||
| Free mental health counseling | 25 | 56.8 | Free mental health counseling | 12 | 48.0 |
| Meditation applications | 15 | 34.1 | Meditation applications | 7 | 28.0 |
| Video conferencing social hours | 20 | 45.5 | Video conferencing social hours | 12 | 48.0 |
| Access to online exercise resources | 14 | 31.8 | Access to online exercise resources | 8 | 32.0 |
| Access to additional online education material | 27 | 61.4 | Access to additional online education material | 19 | 76.0 |
| Free or discounted food | 20 | 45.5 | Free or discounted food | 5 | 20.0 |
| Reduced in-hospital work requirements | 31 | 70.5 | Reduced in-hospital work requirements | 20 | 80.0 |
| Free or discounted child care | 16 | 36.6 | Free or discounted child care | 4 | 16.0 |
| Decision making for nonemergent surgeries | |||||
| Attending decision | 12 | 48.0 | |||
| Service guidelines | 11 | 44.0 | |||
| Hospital/OR guidelines | 20 | 80.0 | |||
| State guidelines | 10 | 40.0 | |||
| National guidelines | 3 | 12.0 | |||
| Standardized scoring system to determine case priority | 9 | 36.0 |
*
Respondents, n=44.