Sonography最新文献

Introduction: The wellbeing of front-line healthcare workers can be impacted during a pandemic. This paper reports the initial impact on the wellbeing of COVID-19 on Australasian sonographers.

Methods: An online qualitative and quantitative survey was conducted between March and June 2020 to explore the wellbeing of Australasian sonographers in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Whilst most sonographers felt supported at work (300/379), those working in public hospitals felt more so than those in private practice. Sonographers in private practice felt more as though their job was at risk and were more likely to consider an alternate source of income. Sonographers felt they were working on the front line and many felt anxious about themselves (74%) or family (78%) contracting COVID-19 due to their employment. Forty-one percent of sonographers felt more isolated than normal, with younger age groups (18-34 years) feeling less like they had enough hobbies or selfcare activities to get them through. Twelve percent of sonographers reported never, or rarely, coping with the juggle of work and home life.

Conclusion: The initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of sonographers is evident. Longitudinal data will enable wellbeing to be tracked over time.

Introduction: COVID-19 brought with it the requirement for healthcare workers to limit community transmission of the virus as much as possible by limiting patient contact and wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This study aimed to capture the initial adaptations to sonographic examination protocols within ultrasound departments and sonographer access to PPE.

Methods: An online survey was used to gather data on sonographer reflections of sonographic examination protocol changes seen in their departments and access to PPE between the 11th of March 2020 and the 14th of June 2020.

Results: To reduce the time sonographers spent with the patients and hence reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, sonographers reported adjustments to sonographic examination protocols including their duration and scheduling. Access to PPE was reported as poor.

Conclusion: Numerous sonographic examination protocol changes were observed within ultrasound departments in Australasia in the initial response to COVID-19. Access to PPE was varied along with sonographer feelings around the impact of these changes.

Introduction: COVID-19 has seen a series of lockdowns and suspension on non-urgent elective surgeries. Subsequently, there was a drop in the number of diagnostic imaging services billed in April, May, 2020. A survey was undertaken from March to June 2020 to determine the initial impact of COVID-19 on Australasian Sonographers. This article, the first in a 3-part series presents and discusses the results of this survey pertaining to changes in the number of scans performed, and changes in the working hours of sonographers. The remaining two articles in this series address other initial COVID-19 impacts on Australasian Sonographers.

Methods: An online survey was conducted containing questions regarding changes to work hours and examination numbers.

Results: 444 participants answered the survey. Seventy eight percent of sonographers reported a decrease in the number of examinations being performed in their department A decrease in work hours was reported by 68% of sonographers with almost a quarter of these reporting that they had lost all their hours. A higher percentage of work hours changes were seenin private practices. Many reductions in work hours were reported to be voluntary.

Conclusion: Scan numbers in ultrasound departments were affected by COVID-19, as were sonographers' work hours.