COVID-19 impact on the workplace
Reviewed by Joanna Lemanska

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted several areas of people’s life. It is unsurprising that it is now a very common research topic. The described study concerned a discussion about what effects the pandemic had and might have on the audiology workplace, based on the international cross-sectional survey results conducted in June-August 2022. This study was part of a wider approach to how audiologists were affected by the pandemic. The survey consisted of 50 questions and some of them concerned the effect of the pandemic on the workplace. It would be useful if some information was provided about how questions were validated. It is not surprising that the majority of the 337 audiologists that took part in the survey indicated that the number of patients were reduced at the time. Seventeen percent of participants indicated that the number of staff members was reduced and 9% of clinics were closed. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, when discussing what the audiology services would look like after the pandemic, tele-audiology service was indicated as something that will remain and develop. Is this a good approach? It is not a simple question and there are no simple answers. It is certainly a good solution to reduce patient waiting time but, at the same time, lack of face-to-face contact may have a negative impact on patients’ service. Most astonishing was the fact that the survey’s participants saw the psychosocial support of their patients as one of the least important services. This is something that needs a wider discussion, and it may be that a change in the approach to audiology is needed as early as at the educational level.

International survey of audiologists during the COVID-19 pandemic: effects on the workplace.
Manchaiah V, Eikelboom RH, Bennett RJ, Swanepoel DW.
INT J AUDIOL
2022;61(4):265-72