Fourth COVID anniversary: does our practice have changed? The case of ENT outpatient consultations in Cameroon — a national cross-sectional survey

Abstract

In Cameroon, the COVID-19 disease has demonstrated shortcomings in preventing nosocomial infections at both collective and individual levels. This study aimed to identify practice changes in ENT outpatient consultations in Cameroon inducted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that took place in March 2024. A Google Form was submitted to ENT practitioners online across Cameroon. It consisted of 20 questions grouped into socio-professional and clinical data. Sixty-four practitioners responded to the questionnaire. The average age of respondents was 36, with extremes of 31 and 70. The sex ratio was 0.35 in favor of women. In terms of experience, 47.7% had been practicing for less than 10 years. A total of 91.3% practiced in public health facilities. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, attitudes towards respiratory diseases were as follows: wearing of masks by suspected patients (4.3%), information posters in waiting rooms (13%), constant use of disinfectant gel (26.1%), wearing of masks by practitioners (0%), wearing of gloves (54.5%), wearing of gowns (87%), constant hand hygiene after each consultation (26.1%), and regular surface hygiene (30.4%). All precautions were improved after 4 years of the pandemic except wearing eye protection. ENT practice has been strongly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many measures still need to be taken to improve infection control in hospitals in Cameroon.