Orthopaedic Patient’s Persepective and Experience during COVID-19: A Survey at Tertiary Care Centre in India

Introduction: On 12 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic by coronavirus disease-19(COVID-19. Many studies have been done related to impact of COVID-19 on orthopedic patient care and impact on orthopedic residents but none has measured the patient related outcomes in this pandemic time. The main aim of this pilot study is to understand the orthopedic patient’s knowledge and understanding about COVID-19 infection and pandemic and their follow up experience and perspective during this pandemic.

Methods: The survey was done from 1st November, 2020 to 31st December, 2020. A questionnaire consisting of 30 questions was prepared for the survey. The questionnaire was filled by patient. The questionnaire was filled at the time of 1st follow-up after discharge from the hospital.

Results: Total 187 patients participated in this questionnaire survey. 112 (59.89%) patients came for follow up on the same day as advised by the doctor. This was significantly associated with patients using private transport (36.9%) for conveyance to visit the hospital on follow up (p = 0.001), patients responding that in person follow up visits(31.01%) are justified in scenario of pandemic (p = 0.029). 75 (40.1%) patients delayed their follow up. 43 patients delayed their follow up due to fear of pandemic, 19 due to personal reasons, 8 (10.66%) due to financial problems and 5 (6.6%) due to some other miscellaneous reasons.

Conclusion: In general, majority of people were well informed about COVID-19 infection and pandemic but still there is a need to educate patients regarding the false conspiracies in connection with COVID-19 pandemic. People are very much in the state of fear and proper counseling of the patients is necessary.