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Published on: February 27, 2018
Addressing the mental health of Canadians waiting for elective surgery: a potential positive post-pandemic legacy
Sam M Wiseman1, Trafford Crump1, Eric Cadesky1
1From the Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (Wiseman); the Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta. (Crump); the Department of Family Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (Cadesky); and the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (Sutherland).
Summary:
The impact of waiting for surgery on the mental health of patients usually receives little attention. Because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the waits for elective surgery have been lengthening, potentially inducing or exacerbating mental health burdens. Provinces' health systems need to provide better support to assess not only patients' physical health, but also their mental health, and provide them with timely access to care based on need. A stepped care approach is needed to mitigate negative mental health effects associated with prolonged waits for elective operations. To provide the best care possible, we need to recognize and address both the physical and mental health problems of our waiting patients.
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