A nationwide survey on the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on minimal invasive surgery in urology practice

Objective The beta‐coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic has changed the clinical approach of 93% of urologists worldwide, and this situation has affected the use of laparoscopic and robot‐assisted laparoscopic methods, which are known as minimally invasive surgery (MIS). This study aimed to determine the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on MIS in urology practice at national level. Design, setting and participants A total of 234 urologists in Turkey participated in an online survey between August 22 and September 23, 2020. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to determine the participants’ demographic characteristics and responses to multiple‐choice questions. Results While 54% of urologists stated that they were concerned about the possibility that the patients planned to undergo MIS were carrying COVID‐19 or false‐negative for the virus, 51% considered that open surgery was safer than MIS in this regard. The pandemic led to a difference in the preferences of 40% of the urologists in relation to open or MIS methods, and during the pandemic, 39% of the urologists always directed their patients to open surgery. It was determined that during the pandemic, there was a statistical decrease in the intensity and weekly application of MIS methods among all surgical procedures compared to the pre‐pandemic (P