Brazilian vascular surgeons experience during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has made a significant impact on all spheres of society. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the practices, finances, and social aspects of Brazilian vascular surgeons’ lives. Methods This is a descriptive analysis of the responses from Brazilian vascular surgeons to the cross-sectional anonymous Society for Vascular Surgery Wellness Task Force Pandemic Practice, Anxiety, Coping, and Support Survey for Vascular Surgeons disseminated 14–24 April 2020. Survey dissemination in Brazil occurred mainly via the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (SBACV) and social media. The survey evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular surgeons’ lives by assessing COVID-19-related stressors, anxiety using theGeneral Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7 scale, and coping strategies using the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE) inventory. Results A total of 452 responses were recorded from Brazil, with 335 (74%) respondents completing the entire survey. The majority of respondents were males (N = 301, 67%) and practiced in an urban hospitals. The majority of respondents considered themselves at high risk to be infected with COVID-19 (N = 251, 55.8%), and just over half the respondents noted that they had adequate PPE at their primary hospital (N = 171, 54%). One hundred and nine (35%) surgeons confirmed that their hospitals followed professional surgical society guidelines for prioritizing surgeries during the pandemic. At the time of the survey, only 33 (10%) surgeons stated they have pre-operative testing of patients for COVID-19 available at their hospital. Academic vascular surgeons reported being redeployed more often to help with other non-vascular duties compared to community-based or solo practitioners (43% vs. 30% vs. 21% respectively, P = .01). Severe anxiety due to pandemic-related financial concerns was similar in those surgeons practicing solo compared to those in community- or academic-based/group practice (46% vs. 38% vs. 22%; P = .54). The respondents reported their anxiety levels as mild based on the stressors investigated instead of moderate-severe (54% vs. 46%; P = .04). Social media was utilized heavily during the pandemic, with video gatherings being the most commonly used tool (76%). Self-distraction (60%) and situational acceptance (81%) were the most frequently reported coping mechanisms used among Brazilian vascular surgeons. Conclusion The COVID pandemic has greatly affected healthcare providers around the world. At the time of this survey, Brazilian vascular surgeons are reporting low anxiety levels during this time and are using mostly active coping mechanisms.


Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has made a significant impact globally on all spheres of society. 1,2 Flu-related pandemic and outbreaks are not infrequent in modern history as seen with the Influenza H1N1 pandemic in 2009, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in 2015. 3,4 However, the infection and death rates secondary to SARS-CoV-2 have reached alarming numbers. 5 The response to and impact of the pandemic has differed from country to country. Major world economic powers, such as Italy, Spain, France, the UK, China, and the USA were considerably affected despite their robust public health infrastructure and technological development. 1,2 Brazil has one of the largest practicing vascular surgery communities in the world, with around 3500 board-certified vascular surgeons. Brazil is the fifthlargest country, the ninth-largest economy by nominal gross domestic product, and the eighth-largest nation by purchasing power parity in the world. As a developing country, healthcare is universal in Brazil, with basic access provided to all citizens. However, complementary private healthcare systems coexist with the unified public healthcare system, which accentuate the separation between the rich and the poor. 6 The objective of this study was to analyze the survey responses from vascular surgeons in Brazil to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these individuals during the time period of 10-24 April 2020.

Methods
This is a subset analysis of the cross-sectional anonymous Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Wellness Task Force Pandemic Practice, Anxiety, Coping, and Support Survey for Vascular Surgeons, which was made available between 14 April 2020 and 24 April 2020 inclusive. Institutional review board approval was granted through the University of Washington Human Subjects Division (IRB#09926) as a minimal risk project with consent waiver as the input provided by the respondents is not identifiable. All participants implicated consent by replying to the survey. The survey evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular surgeons' clinical practices, as well as their degree of anxiety, measured by the GAD-7 scale. 7 Coping strategies were also assessed using the 28-item Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE) inventory(Brief-COPE). 8 The survey (online Appendix 1) was disseminated through the SVS media channels the SVS Connect and the Pulse. Social media, such as Twitter, WhatsApp, and Facebook were also utilized to distribute the survey. Dissemination in Brazil also occurred through the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (SBACV). This was accomplished through two email distributions sent to more than 3500 members on 16 April 2020 and 22 April 2020.

Statistical analysis
Categorical data are reported as numbers and percentages. Continuous data are presented as means and standard deviation of the mean or median and ranges or interquartile range (IQR) where appropriate. Measures of central tendency of numerical data were compared using the parametric Student's t-test for normally distributed data and non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test for non-normal data. Categorical data were compared using the Pearson Chi-square test. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0 for Windows (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results
A total of 452 responses were received from Brazil for an estimated 13% response rate. All but 10 (2%) practicing vascular specialists responding to the survey were vascular surgeons. The majority of respondents were males (N ¼ 301, 67%). The three most common types of practices reported were academic, private sector, and government. The vast majority of respondents practiced in an urban hospital with <1% practicing in the rural setting. Years in practice were equally distributed among the respondents. Further information on type of practice, size of hospital, and leadership positions is shown in Table 1.

Practice impact and exposure to COVID-19
At the time of the survey, most respondents reported that elective cases were cancelled (92.5%) and that they had available beds in their intensive care units (ICUs, 82.6%). One hundred and nine (35%) surgeons confirmed their hospitals had adopted the American College of Surgeons/Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines for prioritizing surgeries during the pandemic. Just over half of the respondents (N ¼ 166, 53%) reported receiving regular updates about the status of COVID-19 at their hospital. Academic vascular surgeons reported being redeployed more often to help with other non-vascular duties compared to community-based or solo practitioners (42.9% vs. 29.6% vs. 20.9%, respectively, P ¼ .01, Table 2).
A small portion of the vascular surgeons have either operated on or placed a central venous catheter (CVC) in a patient with a confirmed COVID-19 infection (N ¼ 66, 14.6%). In terms of perioperative precautions, among those who operated on patients with COVID-19 (N ¼ 26), 92% (N ¼ 24) used N95 masks, and 11% (N ¼ 3) used Powered Air-Purified Respirator during operations. Over half reported that they had adequate PPE at their primary hospital (N ¼ 171, 54%). Among those who had performed central venous access (CVC) placement on COVID-19 patients, most noted they had adequate PPE during the procedures (N ¼ 51, 84%).

Personal impact
The vast majority of respondents (N ¼ 395, 88%) reported changes in daily routine and social life. The majority of respondents (352, 78%) stated they used a separate changing area at home after work, but continued to use the shared spaces. Thirty-six (8%) stated they stayed in a separate room at home while 6 (1.3%) remained in a hotel or the hospital. Concerns of becoming disabled or dying during the pandemic prompted 130 (30%) Brazilian vascular surgeons to review or make a living will, 89 (21%) to designate or re-discuss their medical power of attorney, 65 (15%) to review or to apply for disability/life insurance, and 145 (34%) to discuss dying with family or friends. Figure 1 summarizes the magnitude of stress reported by the respondents associated with occupational and personal COVID-19-related stressors.
Of the 315 (71.3%) respondents who replied to the question regarding COVID-19-related financial concerns, the majority (93.3%) found it stressful ( Figure 2). Moreover, 151 (47%) vascular surgeons practicing in solo or exclusively outpatient practices reported that financial concerns were causing them severe stress as opposed to 122 (38%) of surgeons working in community/group practices and 68 (22%) of those working for academic or government institutions (P ¼ 0.01). Less than 10% of the respondents in each group reported the financial impact of the   Figure 3.
The Brief-COPE inventory was completed by 334 (75.6%) of the respondents. The most commonly reported avoidant coping strategies were selfdistraction (60%), followed by venting (73%). The most commonly reported active coping strategies were acceptance, used by 95% of the respondents and  planning by 96% (Figure 4). Several social media platforms were utilized by 325 (97%) respondents during the pandemic. These are avenues to maintain interpersonal relationships and potentially cope with stressors. The most commonly used was a video chat for remote gatherings followed by hospital Town Halls (249/328, 76% and 182/328, 55%, respectively, Figure 5).

Differences in the impact of COVID-19 in Brazil and in the USA
At the timing at this survey, data from several countries were reported in the global survey. Differences between the USA and Brazil were noticeable with significantly more female Brazilian vascular surgeons responding to the survey than female American vascular surgeons (146, 33% vs. 134, 26%; P ¼ .016). In addition, there were a significantly higher number of vascular surgeons practicing in teaching hospital and in urban areas in Brazil compared to the USA (134, 43% vs. 130, 26%; P < .001 and 311, 99% vs. 437, 89%; P < .001).
Preparedness and response to a possible illness and death varied significantly between Brazil and the USA. Brazilian vascular surgeons reported being more prone to make a living will (130, 32% vs. 78, 15%; P < .001), to assign a power of attorney (87, 22% vs. 66, 13%; P < .001), or to discuss health insurance coverage compared to their American counterparts (65, 16% vs. 47, 9%; P < .001). A third of the respondents in both countries reported discussing death with family and friends. Table 3 summarizes the main comparisons between Brazilian and American vascular surgeon responses.

Discussion
Brazil has now become the new epicenter of COVID-19 infections with reported 391,222 cases of COVID-19 infection as of 26 May 2020. 9 The SVS Wellness Task Force Committee aimed to investigate the impact of this pandemic on vascular surgeons' lives globally. Brazilian vascular surgeons are an integral part of the hospital frontline either by performing direct operations to treat patients with vascular complications secondary to the coronavirus syndrome or by providing intensive care support. Therefore, some unique characteristics of this healthcare system are worth noting.
This finding could be related to the timing of the survey dissemination as Brazil was experiencing the early stage of the COVID-19 surge with 25,262 reported cases at the start of the survey dissemination to 52,995 reported cases by the close of the survey. This of course may change as the case numbers have increased in Brazil. 9 Brazilian vascular surgeons also reported a stronger, more regular focus on religion as a coping mechanism as opposed to vascular surgeons in the USA. This factor makes the Brazilian data regarding how vascular surgeons report changes in life and stress unique.
The unprecedented magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic directly affects the world supply chain necessary to contain the infection, save lives, and protect healthcare workers. In several locations, there have been shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and life support devices, such as ventilators. The intense physical burden for healthcare providers caring for acutely ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 with limited PPE can generate substantial psychological strain. 10 This may be translated into states of depression, anxiety, and, later on, post-traumatic stress disorder. 11 Brazilians who are known for their hospitality and emphasis on regular gatherings with family and friends have reported low anxiety levels at the time of the survey dissemination. These findings could also be related to the pre-surge timing of the survey dissemination. As routine life modification, such as social distancing and lockdowns, become more frequent, the response to stress will likely increase. Our global survey showed a higher level of stress in the US areas severely afflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which  might also happen in largely populated Brazilian state capitals (i.e. Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro). Fear of being infected or knowing someone who died from COVID-19 was reported by almost half of the respondents. This was a likely motivation for the third of respondents who reported reviewing or making a will-another third of the respondents discussed with family and friends their fear of dying from COVID-19. In light of these fears and uncertainties, personal interaction was a strong need among Brazilian vascular surgeons and video chats were the most utilized social media coping strategy over other websites or messaging platforms. This could be related to the preference of Brazilians for audio-and visual-based interactions instead of messaging. The Brazilian healthcare system has two sources of funding: public and private. Multi-specialty groups or large insurance companies dominate both systems. Healthcare universal coverage is provided to all Brazilian citizens through a unified medicine system, free of charge, called "Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS)". 6 Most of the vascular surgeons that have some form of job agreement with SUS also hold private practice jobs. Similar to the Veterans Affairs system in the USA, Brazilian vascular surgeons who work at SUS facilities can claim a pension based on the duration of their services. Dedicated academic vascular surgeons in Brazil who work preferentially or exclusively at University Hospitals funded by SUS are salaried, and there are no options to earn bonuses based on productivity. On the other spectrum of the Brazilian system are vascular surgeons that work for their own solo company or in small groups of private vascular surgeons that run small enterprises. These systembased differences are important, and they were further explored in the survey based on potential economic vulnerability and stress in those practice types. The overall financial impact of the pandemic was reported to be very stressful by less than half of the respondents. This might be related to the employment landscape in Brazil, where most of the practicing vascular surgeons supplement their own private practice with some sort of academic or government-related employment agreement. Among those vascular surgeons who rely almost exclusively on their individual practice or outpatient procedure revenues, there was a significantly higher level of severe stress. Therefore, we believe solo or private practitioners are more vulnerable to the crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A comparison between the Brazilian and the American vascular surgeons' perceptions of COVID showed significant differences in many points of our survey. Some main differences, such as preparedness for illness and death and the higher boarding of patients in Emergency departments instead of PACUs and operating rooms are likely related to social and cultural differences along with these two countries distinct healthcare systems structure. Further, the timing of survey dissemination both in the USA and in Brazil might have heavily contributed for such differences. Brazil was in a pre-surge phase, while the USA was in its surge phase and was considered the epicenter of the pandemic at the time of the survey.
Our study has several limitations, which we attempted to moderate. Recall bias was mitigated as the survey addresses current feelings and situations at the moment. Acquiescence bias was minimized by limiting agree/disagree selections. Selection bias was possible as those most severely affected either may not have had the time to respond to the survey entirely or may have had an increased desire to detail their experience. Further limitations include non-response bias, although several attempts at amplification of the survey were conducted via social media platforms and outreach from the co-authors. The language barrier should be considered a limitation; however, careful analysis of the complete responses provided by more than 400 Brazilian surgeons showed reasonable English literacy.

Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected healthcare providers around the world. At the time of this survey, Brazilian vascular surgeons have reported only mild effects of the pre-surge phase, and the use of adequate coping mechanisms could be demonstrated.

Declaration of conflicting interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.