Determining the Effect of Covid-19 Disease on Family Physicians` Social and Daily Activities in Kayseri/Türkiye

Sažetak

Objective: We aimed at determining the effects of Covid-
19 disease on family physicians` (FPs) daily work and life.
Methods: We searched for GPs who had Covid-19 by
making inquiries in the Medical Chamber, Association of
GPs in Kayseri, and local health authorities. Our study period
covers the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in Türkiye
(March 11th, 2020 – March 11th, 2021). The descriptive
characteristics, we looked into, were the use of preventive
measures, location of family health centers, the transmission
route of Covid-19, the symptoms they experienced, FP’s general
health status, and additionally details of isolation, diagnosis,
and hospitalization procedures.
Results: A total of 85 FPs (18.2% of all FPs in the Kayseri
region) had Covid-19 in the first 12 months of the Covid-
19 pandemic in Kayseri/Türkiye. FPs who gave consent
to participate in our study made up 60.8% of Kayseri`s FPs.
Washing hands, keeping distance, using face masks, and frequent
indoor ventilation were the most frequently used measures
(>75%). More than 2/3 of FPs stuck to the preventive
measures. The most frequent symptoms experienced by the
FPs were muscle and joint pain, weakness, and fever (more
than 1/5 of FPs, respectively 35.4%, 30.4%, 29.1%). The
transmission sites were mostly Family Health Centers.
Conclusion: About 1/6 of FPs were infected with Covid-
19. Almost all of them were working in the urban area.
The mean hospitalization stay was 7.7 days and in more than
50% the symptoms of fever and cough were detected. The
disease transmission was the most prevalent at the workplace
and the most common concern of FPs was the protection of
their families.