Background COVID-19 has brought into questioning the equitable distribution of resources. Solid Organ Transplants (SOT) are life-saving procedures. Rapid changes in the management of patients are occurring, with potential for inequity. Drawing on professionals across transplant specialities, we investigated resource distribution specifically for SOT to guide healthcare policies. A multidisciplinary team developed a survey. The survey included demographic questions to contextualise respondents, questions on resource allocation for SOT. Multiple strategies were used to distribute the survey internationally. Descriptive, uni-multivariate ordinal regressions analysis were performed. Open comments were analysed using qualitative methods.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
1,819
The survey sought to elucidate equity principles that are influencing transplant decision making. The group of respondents included solid organ transplant doctors (surgeons, referring doctors, transplant physicians, transplant coordinators, ICU transplant doctors), COVID-doctors (ICU doctors, Infectious Disease Doctors, Pulmonologists, Internists), and Ethicists with experience of transplant related issues. Respondent identification: A. The e-mail addresses of corresponding authors from Scopus January 1, 2017 and march 20, 2020: All ("surgery") AND subj ("medi") and key ("transplantation"), All ("critical care") AND subj ("medi") and key ("transplantation"), All ("ethics") AND subj ("medi") and key ("transplantation"). B. Emailing through the mailing list of scientific societies. C. The link to the survey published online. D. The link to the survey circulated through personal contacts and via social media sites.
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"
Rome, Italy
Management of Solid Organ Transplant during COVID-19 pandemic
Question 1"Given the COVID-19 outbreak, should liver transplant activities be stopped?" with three possible answers (Completely, Selectively and Not at All)
Time frame: 20/04/2020
Equity of resource distribution
Question 2"I feel that the current policy to allocate most resources to COVID-19 meets the equity of access in healthcare for different diseases" with four possible alternative answers (strongly agree, partially agree, partially disagree and strongly disagree).
Time frame: 20/04/2020
Equity rank of resource distribution
Scale (10 strongly agree- 0 strongly disagree).
Time frame: 20/04/2020
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