Management of operating rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic: Comparison between hospitals

In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the management of hospital operating rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic process and to compare the practices they have done in this process according to their ownership. The study was conducted between December 2021 and March 2022 in a university hospital and a hospital affiliated to the Ministry of Health by conducting face-to-face interviews with a total of 86 participants. In the study, a mixed method model in which qualitative and quantitative methods were evaluated together was adopted. In the quantitative part of the study, the surgical data of the hospitals before, during and after the pandemic period were evaluated. In the quantitative part of the study, the surgical data of the hospitals before, during and after the pandemic period were evaluated. As a result of the content analysis, two main themes titled "Arrangements Made in Operating Rooms for COVID-19" and "Requirements and Challenges in the COVID-19 Process" were identified. Within the main themes, five sub-themes were identified. Within the main theme of "Arrangements Made in Operating Rooms for COVID-19", three sub-themes were created under the names of "Measures Taken to Prevent the Spread of Infection", "Arrangements Made According to PCR Test Results" and "Arrangements Made in the Operating Room". Within the main theme of "Requirements and Challenges in the COVID-19 Process", the sub-themes of "Requirements in the Process" and "Challenges Experienced in the Process" were identified. In 2020, when the pandemic was declared, it was determined that there was a decrease in the number and groups of surgeries in both hospitals compared to the previous year. It was determined that the surgeries performed at the university hospital in 2020 decreased by 40% compared to 2019 and this decrease was the highest in group E surgeries. It was determined that no surgery was performed in the hospital affiliated to the Ministry of Health in 2020, and the surgeries performed in 2021 decreased by 87% compared to 2019, and this decrease was mostly in group A. It was determined that both hospitals managed the process in accordance with the protocols determined by the Ministry of Health. It was determined that both hospitals use negative pressure ventilation, COVID-19 operating room determination, cleaning of the operating room and medical devices and tools, mask-distance rules, use of personal protective equipment in all processes of vii preparation for surgery and surgical procedures, and transfer of patients with isolated stretchers. It was determined that both hospitals could not distinguish between clean and dirty areas while planning the operating room during the COVID 19 pandemic. In line with the findings obtained as a result of the study; it is recommended to regulate the number of employees considering the need for healthcare workers during the pandemic period, to act equally and fairly in the assignments made in order to prevent the deterioration of work peace during this period, to provide healthcare workers with access to accurate information and to make material improvements in addition to meeting the spiritual needs of healthcare workers in order to increase their motivation during this period, to separate the entrance and exit places of patients and healthcare workers to the operating room, and to plan the COVID-19 operating room in an isolated place from other rooms as much as possible. Keywords: COVID-19, hospital, management, operating room, pandemic.