Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patient Attendance and Trends in the Use of Medical Imaging Modalities in a Referral Hospital in the City of Douala, Cameroon  

作　　者：Yannick Onana Joshua Tambe Mohamadou Aminou Samuel Mbozo’o Mvondo Francis Ateba Ndongo Jean Claude Mballa Amougou Jeremie Mbo Amvene Mathurin Neossi Guena Harvey Onana Boniface Moifo Emile Telesphore Mboudou Yannick Onana;Joshua Tambe;Mohamadou Aminou;Samuel Mbozo’o Mvondo;Francis Ateba Ndongo;Jean Claude Mballa Amougou;Jeremie Mbo Amvene;Mathurin Neossi Guena;Harvey Onana;Boniface Moifo;Emile Telesphore Mboudou(Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Douala, Cameroon;Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of Garoua, University of Ngaoundere, Garoua, Cameroon;Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon;Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon;Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon;Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon)

机构地区：[1]Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Douala, Cameroon [2]Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of Garoua, University of Ngaoundere, Garoua, Cameroon [3]Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon [4]Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon [5]Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon [6]Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon

出　　处：《Open Journal of Medical Imaging》2022年第1期16-24,共9页医学影像期刊（英文）

摘　　要：Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a massive influx of patients with suspected or confirmed flu to hospitals, paradoxically leading to a decrease in the attendance for some services. This study aspired to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the attendance of patients at the Radiology and Medical Imaging Department of a tertiary hospital in Douala, Cameroon. Materials and Methods: This was an observational, retrospective and descriptive hospital-based study. Data on patient attendance was extracted from the medical records at the Radiology Unit of Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (DGOPH) between the 1^st of March 2019 and the 30^th of August 2021. Results: There was a drop in the number of sonographies and conventional radiographies by 25.73% and 18.26% respectively during the peaks pandemic period of 2020 compared to the preceding pre-pandemic era (2019). There was a recovery in 2021 as the numbers increased. Computed tomography studies increased by 40.65% during the peak pandemic period of 2020. Conclusion: This study enables us to understand the health-seeking behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in CT utilization during the peak period of the pandemic nevertheless required caution in order to ensure safety and to promote rational cost-effective utilization.Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a massive influx of patients with suspected or confirmed flu to hospitals, paradoxically leading to a decrease in the attendance for some services. This study aspired to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the attendance of patients at the Radiology and Medical Imaging Department of a tertiary hospital in Douala, Cameroon. Materials and Methods: This was an observational, retrospective and descriptive hospital-based study. Data on patient attendance was extracted from the medical records at the Radiology Unit of Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (DGOPH) between the 1^st of March 2019 and the 30^th of August 2021. Results: There was a drop in the number of sonographies and conventional radiographies by 25.73% and 18.26% respectively during the peaks pandemic period of 2020 compared to the preceding pre-pandemic era (2019). There was a recovery in 2021 as the numbers increased. Computed tomography studies increased by 40.65% during the peak pandemic period of 2020. Conclusion: This study enables us to understand the health-seeking behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in CT utilization during the peak period of the pandemic nevertheless required caution in order to ensure safety and to promote rational cost-effective utilization.

关 键 词：COVID-19 IMPACT Imaging Trends Radiology Department Douala 

分 类 号：R73[医药卫生—肿瘤]