Effects of COVID-19 on Benign Gynecologic Practice

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has altered health care. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in gynecology practice patterns in response to the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A survey was created and distributed to members of the American Association of Gynecologist Laparoscopists, using REDCap [Research Electronic Data Capture] from July 2020 to August 2020. The responses of 112 gynecologists representing all U.S. regions and several other countries were analyzed. Results: In response to the pandemic, almost all providers' institutions took action to increase social-distancing efforts (99.1%) and to encourage use of personal protective equipment (95.5%). Furthermore, 75.5% of institutions cancelled elective surgeries and 80% started utilizing telemedicine. Practice volume dropped by 27% among respondents, and 64% felt that patients were delaying needed care. The gynecologic diagnosis felt to be most impacted by COVID-19 secondary to delays in care was pelvic pain. The pandemic accelerated implementation of telemedicine, and, interestingly, 65% of providers reported that they would continue to use telemedicine 25% of the time going forward. Conclusions: COVID-19 has reshaped clinical and surgical practices in benign gynecology. It has led physicians to begin utilizing telemedicine for gynecologic care more readily, and many will continue to utilize this method of health care even when the pandemic ends. (J GYNECOL SURG 20XX:000)