The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives. The full impact of the pandemic is still unfolding and will take years to fully understand. This longitudinal study followed a sample of 189 genetic counselors from June to November of 2020, starting with an online retrospective baseline survey of pre-COVID-19 functioning and continuing with a monthly online survey (average retention = 89.2%) to assess changes in self-reported stress, employment status, billing practices, self-efficacy, and their use of telehealth. Participants were recruited from specific states representing geographic diversity with publicly available databases of contact information as well as social media. The sample was largely reflective of the professional demographics reported in the 2020 Professional Status Survey (PSS). Comparisons were made between the PSS, baseline assessment of pre-COVID-19 status, June, and November data. Genetic counselor workload did not significantly change in terms of hours worked from baseline to November, though patients served per week dropped initially before returning to pre-COVID-19 levels. Genetic counselors were increasingly working remotely and supervising students less frequently in November compared to pre-COVID-19 baseline. Approximately 50% of the sample were unable to bill for services throughout the study period, with billing practices not changing during this time. Approximately 40% experienced a negative employment change in June, which dropped to ~10% in November. Personal and family stress levels were elevated during the study period, while financial stress increased from baseline to June it returned to pre-COVID-19 levels by November. Self-efficacy for common genetic counseling skills decreased from baseline to June but returned to baseline levels by November. The results suggest the workforce faced transitions but has rebounded in most areas studied. The pandemic highlighted pre-existing billing issues, and the current billing structures were not able to shift in the face of practice transitions. The long-term implications of the pandemic remain to be seen, but the results indicate returns toward baseline data in most areas with the exceptions of supervision, personal and family stress, and billing.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 大流行导致遗传咨询人员的变化

COVID-19 大流行影响了我们生活的方方面面。大流行的全面影响仍在展开，需要数年时间才能完全理解。这项纵向研究从 2020 年 6 月到 11 月对 189 名遗传咨询师进行了抽样调查，首先是对 COVID-19 之前功能的在线回顾性基线调查，然后是每月在线调查（平均保留率 = 89.2%）以评估自我的变化-报告的压力、就业状况、计费方式、自我效能以及他们对远程医疗的使用。参与者是从代表地理多样性的特定州招募的，他们拥有公开的联系信息数据库和社交媒体。该样本在很大程度上反映了 2020 年专业地位调查 (PSS) 中报告的专业人口统计数据。PSS之间进行了比较，对 COVID-19 之前状态、6 月和 11 月数据的基线评估。从基线到 11 月，遗传咨询师的工作量没有显着变化，尽管每周服务的患者在恢复到 COVID-19 之前的水平之前最初有所下降。与 COVID-19 之前的基线相比，遗传咨询师在 11 月越来越多地进行远程工作，并减少监督学生的频率。在整个研究期间，大约 50% 的样本无法为服务计费，而计费方式在此期间没有改变。大约 40% 的人在 6 月经历了负面的就业变化，11 月降至约 10%。在研究期间，个人和家庭压力水平升高，而财务压力从基线增加到 6 月，到 11 月恢复到 COVID-19 之前的水平。常见遗传咨询技能的自我效能从基线到 6 月有所下降，但到 11 月恢复到基线水平。结果表明，劳动力面临转型，但在大多数研究领域都出现了反弹。大流行突出了预先存在的计费问题，而当前的计费结构无法在实践转变的情况下发生转变。大流行的长期影响仍有待观察，但结果表明，除监管、个人和家庭压力以及计费外，大多数领域的基线数据都恢复了。面对实践的转变，当前的计费结构无法改变。大流行的长期影响仍有待观察，但结果表明，除监管、个人和家庭压力以及计费外，大多数领域的基线数据都恢复了。面对实践的转变，当前的计费结构无法改变。大流行的长期影响仍有待观察，但结果表明，除监管、个人和家庭压力以及计费外，大多数领域的基线数据都恢复了。