Abstract
Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has made otolaryngologists more susceptible
than their counterparts to its effect.
Objective This study aimed to find if COVID-19 had a different impact on ear, nose, and throat
(ENT) physicians' of various categories (residents, registrars, and consultants )
regarding many aspects of the quality of life (protection, training, financial, and
psychological aspects).
Methods We included 375 ENT physicians, of different categories (residents, registrars, and
consultants), from 33 general hospitals and 26 university hospitals in Egypt. The
study was conducted using a 20-item questionnaire with a response scale consisting
of three categories: yes, no, and not sure. It covered infection control and personal
protective equipment (PPE) usage; medical practice and safety; online consultation
and telemedicine,; webinars and online lectures; COVID-19 psychological, financial,
and quarantine period effects; and future expectations.
Results The results of the questionnaire showed that COVID-19 had a statistically significant
impact on the daily life of the responders. There were statistically significant differences
among the three involved categories, based on their answers.
Conclusion This study showed a statistically significant difference regarding the impact of
COVID-19 on many aspects of the quality of life (protection, training, financial,
and psychological aspects) of ENT physicians of various categories (residents, registrars,
and consultants), and these effects may persist for a long time.
Keywords
COVID-19 - quality of life - impact - otolaryngology
