Medical Advice Through Mobil Phone During the COVID-19 Pandemia, June - July 2020 at Nicaragua

Abstract

In December 2019 an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology emerged in Wuhan, China. World Health Organization named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) several health platforms have used the mobil phone as tool in different aspects and situations, the pandemia one of these. The golds this study is collection of epidemiological data and to ease medical advice using mobil phone during the pandemic by COVID-19 at Nicaragua. Method: Descriptive study, cohort. We reviewed the file of 5,712 phone call, during two months, using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service to provide medical advice. Physicians trained with knowledge about COVID 19 according to WHO- PHO and John Hopkins University’s courses. Data collection realized with a format: call number, call duration, demographic data, symptoms, question about COVID 19, medical advice. The Information proceed using Excel office 2010, the univariable review realized with frequency and percentages. Results: During two months (June and July 2020) we received 5712 mobil phone call. The distribution for departments: 4264 (75%) correspondent to Managua, fallow of Masaya 336 (6%) Chinandega 220 (4%), Granada and León (3%) each one, the others minor to 1%. The female represented 3311(58%) and men 2401(42%) according who made the phone call. The distribution according age : 4035(70.6%) major of 30 years and 1677(29.4%) minor to 30 years Each day the ranges of mobil phone call were 110-120 , average 115 for day. Duration call 5-10 minutes, average was 8 minutes. The symptoms reported were: loss of smell and taste 53-52% respectively fallow of myalgia and fever. The medical advice relationship with the most frequent question about: Symptoms, medical treatment, frequent complications, family protection and mask use. Conclusion: Ours results as the international reports show the greatest utility to epidemiological data collection during a health emergency principally in vulnerable peoples and know a part of the behavior of disease in our country. Also have permitted to ease medical advice by health workers trained on the subject.