Doctors want Ottawa to keep them in the loop on PPE shortages, says CMA survey

Canada's medical doctors are calling on the federal government to be more open and transparent about the supply of personal protective equipment, saying pervasive anxiety on the front lines of the pandemic fight could be eased by more information.

The Canadian Medical Associationrecently conducted a survey of its physician members. It found the overwhelming majority of the nearly 2,500 doctors who responded are feeling stressed about the pandemic and its impact on their families and patients.

CMA president Dr. Sandy Buchman said more than a quarterof thedoctors who participated in the survey said the problem ofshortages of PPE has improved in the last three weeks while another25 per cent-plussaid the situation has gotten worse. Roughlyfour in 10 of those surveyed saw little change either way.

Respondents also suggested that greater availability of medications for patients, better virtual care options and increased peer support would help ease their anxiety.

Keep doctors informed, CMA says

Acknowledging the government is going "full out" to procure protective gear, Buchmansaid little information about the status of supplies is trickling down to the front lines.

"We're not hearing what's coming down the pipeline in a clear and coordinated way," Buchmantold CBC."Where is it? When do you anticipate it is coming to us, to our region, to our hospital?"

The federal government has been scrambling to secure badly-needed protectiveequipment such as surgical-grade masks, gloves, gowns and face shields by re-tooling domestic production linesand building international supply chains in an intensely competitive global field.

Buchman said doctors understandthat governments areworking hard to access PPE but they're still"gravely concerned" about their ability to provide care safely.

Buchman said that of the physicians who took part in the survey, about a third said they only had two days' supplyor lessof key PPE items or had already run out. Some reported havingPPEthat doesn'tfit properly or is falling apart.

The online survey was conducted between Apr. 20 and 21 by the CMA, which has about 75,000 members.

Buchman said that for doctors, not knowingwhen additional supplies might arrive is compounding the anxiety and stress.

'Moral distress'

The CMAalso is pressing the government to ensure more testing is done,so that provincial governments can make decisions about reopening their economies and resuming more regular health care services based on the best possible evidence.

Right now, Buchman said, many doctors are dealing with "moral distress" worrying about whether elderly and other vulnerable patients are getting proper care, and feeling anxiousabout patients whose surgeries and other treatments have been postponed due to COVID-19.

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Many doctors also are struggling with separation from their loved ones. Many areliving in hotels, or even garages, to ensure they don't give the virus to a family member.

Buchman said doctors are trained to function in a crisisbut the stress the pandemic is imposingcould have lastingconsequences.

"We're worried about the long-term effects, a kind of a PTSD thing after all this is over, particularly if they've faced some of the moral distress situations," he said.

The online survey follows onone conductedby CMAat the end of March.