@Article{info:doi/10.2196/40209,
author="Matava, Clyde
and So, Jeannette P
and Hossain, Alomgir
and Kelley, Simon",
title="Experiences of Health Care Professionals Working Extra Weekends to Reduce COVID-19--Related Surgical Backlog: Cross-sectional Study",
journal="JMIR Perioper Med",
year="2022",
month="Dec",
day="6",
volume="5",
number="1",
pages="e40209",
keywords="staff; wait-list; surgery; health care delivery; patient safety; quality improvement; patient satisfaction; COVID-19; practice redesign; burnout; preoperative; pediatric; perioperative; surgical staff; surgeon; healthcare; health care; staff perception; workforce; stress; work; occupational health; occupational safety; perception; workload; nurse; nursing; anesthesiologist; health care provider; health care professional; cross-sectional; online survey",
abstract="Background: During the quiescent periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we implemented a weekend-scheduled pediatric surgery program to reduce COVID-19--related backlogs. Over 100 staff members from anesthesiologists to nurses, surgeons, and administrative and supporting personnel signed up to work extra weekends as part of a novel weekend elective pediatric surgery program to reduce COVID-19--related backlog: Operating Room Ramp-Up After COVID-19 Lockdown Ends-Extra Lists (ORRACLE-Xtra). Objective: In this study, we sought to evaluate staff perceptions and their level of satisfaction and experiences with working extra scheduled weekend elective surgical cases at the end of the 3-month pilot phase of ORRACLE-Xtra and identify key factors for participation. Methods: Following the pilot of ORRACLE-Xtra, all perioperative staff who worked at least 1 weekend list were invited to complete an online survey that was developed and tested prior to distribution. The survey collected information on the impact of working weekends on well-being, overall satisfaction, and likelihood of and preferences for working future weekend lists. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association of well-being with satisfaction and willingness to work future weekend lists. Results: A total of 82 out of 118 eligible staff responded to the survey for a response rate of 69{\%}. Staff worked a median of 2 weekend lists (IQR 1-9). Of 82 staff members, 65 (79{\%}) were satisfied or very satisfied with working the extra weekend elective lists, with surgeons and surgical trainees reporting the highest levels of satisfaction. Most respondents (72/82, 88{\%}) would continue working weekend lists. A sense of accomplishment was associated with satisfaction with working on the weekend (odds ratio [OR] 19.97, 95{\%} CI 1.79-222.63; P=.02) and willingness to participate in future weekend lists (OR 17.74, 95{\%} CI 1.50-200.70; P=.02). Many (56/82, 68{\%}) were willing to work weekend lists that included longer, more complex cases, which was associated with a sense of community (OR 0.12, 95{\%} CI 0.02-0.63; P=.01). Conclusions: Staff participating in the first 3 months of the ORRACLE-Xtra program reported satisfaction with working weekends and a willingness to continue with the program, including doing longer, more complex cases. Institutions planning on implementing COVID-19 surgical backlog work may benefit from gathering key information from their staff. ",
issn="2561-9128",
doi="10.2196/40209",
url="https://periop.jmir.org/2022/1/e40209",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/40209",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36423322"
}