Psychosocio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on gastroenterology and endoscopy practice

Abstract

Beyond posing a major health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted profound psychological, social, and economic impacts on populations worldwide. Mass quarantines and social isolation have affected the mental health of the wider population, exacerbating other stressors, including fear of the virus and its repercussions, general uncertainty, and financial insecurity. The pandemic has challenged the broader delivery of healthcare--ranging from the need to triage limited hospital resources to balancing risk mitigation with maintaining medical care. Specific to gastroenterology, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has not only been associated with complicating extant medical conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but has also forced a shift in the practice of gastroenterology by patients, families, and healthcare providers alike. The gastroenterology field has been required to adapt its practices to minimize the possibility of viral spread while still upholding patient care. Healthcare practitioners in GI have helped to treat COVID-19 patients, stratified inpatient and outpatient visits and procedures, and shifted to telemedicine. Still, as is the case with much of the general population, healthcare providers working in GI practice or endoscopy have faced personal and professional stressors, mental health difficulties, social isolation, financial pressures, and familial burdens--all of which can take a toll on practitioners and, by extension, the provision of GI care overall. This article will highlight how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the psychological wellbeing, social engagement, and economic conditions of the public, healthcare providers, and GI professionals specifically. Recommendations for strategies that can continue GI services while maintaining safety for both caregivers and patients are put forth to help uphold critical GI care during this worldwide crisis.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; economic impact; endoscopy; gastroenterology; healthcare professionals/providers; psychosocial impact; social impact; stress; telemedicine.