Physician Perceptions of Catching COVID-19
Abstract
Background
Risk perception, influenced and biased by multiple factors, can affect behavior.
Objective
To assess the variability of physician perceptions of catching COVID-19.
Design
Cross sectional, random stratified sample of physicians registered with Sermo, a global networking platform open to verified and licensed physicians.
Main outcome measures
The survey asked: “What is your likelihood of catching COVID-19 in the next three months? ” The physicians were asked to give their best estimate as an exact percentage.
Results
The survey was completed by 1004 physicians (40 countries, 67 specialties, 49% frontline [e.g. ER, infectious disease, internal medicine]) with a mean (SD) age of 49.14 (12) years. Mean (SD) self-risk estimate was 32.3% ± 26% with a range from 0% to 100% (Figure 1a). Risk estimates were higher in younger (<50 years) doctors and in non-US doctors versus their older and US counterparts (p<0.05 for all) (Figure 1b). Risk estimates were higher among front line versus non-frontline doctors (p<0.05). Risk estimates were higher for women than men (p<0.05) among respondents (60%) reporting gender.
Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first global study to document physician risk perceptions for catching COVID-19 and how it is impacted by age, gender, practice specialty and geography. Accurate calibration of risk perception is vital since both over- and underestimation of risk could impact physician behavior and have implications for public health.
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