Evaluating the COVID-19 impact on surgical practice in Kurdistan Region, Iraq: A cross-sectional study

Background and objective: Surgeons and surgical practice are influenced greatly by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic all over the world, and this impact affects patients who need surgery, especially in emergency cases. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on surgery in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Methods: A survey that consisted of four sections was prepared and sent by e-mail to over 1000 surgeons with different specialties. The survey was created by google forms and was kept online from 9 October 2020 to 9 November 2020. Results: A total of 207 surgeons have responded to the survey, 146 (70.5%) males and 61 (29.5%) females with different specialists. The data shows that both private and public hospitals were affected by the pandemic equally. Thirty five (16.9%) surgeons indicated that surgery has entirely collapsed in some hospitals. All phases of surgical practice have been affected from partial to complete abandonment of surgery. Conclusion: The pandemic greatly affected surgeons and surgical practice in the Kurdistan region. Additionally, few surgeons indicated that the pandemic did not affect the surgical practice and normal functioning of their hospital. However, most surgeons agreed that the pandemic significantly impels all stages of surgery and surgical practice. Most surgeons have adapted to the situation by using communication technology and new protective measures. Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Kurdistan region; Pandemic effects; Surgery; Surgical practice.