%0 Journal Article
%T Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patient Attendance and Trends in the Use of Medical Imaging Modalities in a Referral Hospital in the City of Douala, Cameroon
%A Yannick Onana
%A Joshua Tambe
%A Mohamadou Aminou
%A Samuel MbozoˇŻo Mvondo
%A Francis Ateba Ndongo
%A Jean Claude Mballa Amougou
%A Jeremie Mbo Amvene
%A Mathurin Neossi Guena
%A Harvey Onana
%A Boniface Moifo
%A Emile Telesphore Mboudou
%J Open Journal of Medical Imaging
%P 16-24
%@ 2164-2796
%D 2022
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojmi.2022.121003
%X Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a massive influx of patients with suspected or confirmed flu to hospitals, paradoxically leading to a decrease in the attendance for some services. This study aspired to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the attendance of patients at the Radiology and Medical Imaging Department of a tertiary hospital in Douala, Cameroon. Materials and Methods: This was an observational, retrospective and descriptive hospital-based study. Data on patient attendance was extracted from the medical records at the Radiology Unit of Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (DGOPH) between the 1st of March 2019 and the 30th of August 2021. Results: There was a drop in the number of sonographies and conventional radiographies by 25.73% and 18.26% respectively during the peaks pandemic period of 2020 compared to the preceding pre-pandemic era (2019). There was a recovery in 2021 as the numbers increased. Computed tomography studies increased by 40.65% during the peak pandemic period of 2020. Conclusion: This study enables us to understand the health-seeking behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in CT utilization during the peak period of the pandemic nevertheless required caution in order to ensure safety and to promote rational cost-effective utilization.
%K COVID-19
%K Impact
%K Imaging Trends
%K Radiology Department
%K Douala
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=116003