Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33999397›Full record

ArticleCJEM2021

A survey of Canadian emergency physicians' experiences and perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nathalie Gaucher, Evelyne D Trottier, Anne-Josee Côté, Huma Ali, Bertrand Lavoie, Claude-Julie Bourque, Samina Ali, for Pediatric Emergency Research Canada

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in CJEM, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed
8.1field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed, 35 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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  3. Experiences of U.S. frontline physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Nathalie GaucherDepartment of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Ch Cote Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec, H3T1C5, Canada. nathalie.orr.gaucher@umontreal.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5997-2627
Evelyne D TrottierDepartment of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Ch Cote Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec, H3T1C5, Canada.
Anne-Josee CôtéDivision of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Huma AliDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Bertrand LavoieFaculty of Law, Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Claude-Julie BourqueCHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Samina AliDepartments of Pediatric and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
for Pediatric Emergency Research Canada
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine · CAAlberta Children's Hospital · CAMcGill University · CAUniversity of Alberta · CAUniversity of Calgary · CA

Funding

Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé Junior 1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe objective of this study was to explore Canadian emergency physicians' experiences, concerns, and perspectives during the first wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

methodsThis cross-sectional survey of physician members of Pediatric Emergency Research Canada and the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians explored: personal safety/responsibility to care; patient interactions; ethical issues in pandemic care; institutional dynamics and communication practices. Data analysis was descriptive: categorical data were summarised with frequency distributions, continuous data [100 mm visual analog scales (VAS)] were analysed using measures of central tendency. Short open-ended items were coded to identify frequencies of responses.

resultsFrom June 29 to July 29, 2020, 187 respondents (13% response rate) completed the survey: 39% were from Ontario and 20% from Quebec, trained in general (50%) or pediatric (37%) emergency medicine. Respondents reported a high moral obligation to care for patients (97/100, IQR: 85-100, on 100 mm VAS). Fear of contracting COVID-19 changed how 82% of respondents reported interacting with patients, while 97% reported PPE negatively impacted patient care. Despite reporting a high proportion of negative emotions (84%), respondents (59%) were not/slightly concerned about their mental health. Top concerns included a potential second wave, Canada's financial situation, worldwide solidarity, and youth mental health. Facilitators to provide emergency care included: teamwork, leadership, clear communications strategies.

conclusionCanadian emergency physicians felt a strong sense of responsibility to care, while dealing with several ethical dilemmas. Clear communication strategies, measures to ensure safety, and appropriate emergency department setups facilitate pandemic care. Emergency physicians were not concerned about their own mental health, requiring further exploration.

Indexed as

COVID-19PhysiciansAdolescentChildCross-Sectional StudiesHumansOntarioPandemicsSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesCOVID-19Emergency medicineEthicsPediatric emergency medicinePhysician wellness

Identifiers

PMID33999397
PMCPMC8127493
OpenAlexW3161010761

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.