Significance. The pandemic of the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection has ended. According to the World Health Organization, there is a transition from the emergency phase to longer-term strategies to combat the disease, which is expressed in the development and adjustment of response measures for COVID-19. In the Russian Federation, the complex of anti-epidemic measures, including restrictive measures, during the pandemic period was systematically adjusted taking into account the accumulated both domestic and international experience. Our study examines the results of a regional expert assessment of the significance of measures aimed at reducing the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Russian Federation in 2020-2022. Purpose. To study the results of expert assessment of the significance of measures aimed at reducing the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection during the pandemic in the Russian Federation in 2020-2022. Materials and methods. The research materials were the data collected by random questionnaire survey of respondents in 2023. The study was conducted in all federal districts of the Russian Federation with the participation of at least 50% of the district subjects. Respondents were experts in the field of health protection, who evaluated the measures aimed at reducing the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection on the basis of questionnaires on expert assessment of the significance of sanitary and epidemic measures, including restrictive measures, during the pandemic of new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection in 2020-2022 (hereinafter - questionnaire). In the questionnaire, the expert indicated the assessment of the importance of the conducted anti-epidemic measure on a ten-point scale: from one point (minimum importance) to ten points (maximum importance of the measure). The following scientific methods were used in the study: scientific-target, normative, system-analytical, structural, sociological. We calculated and analyzed the following indicators: the average score of all studied sanitary and epidemic measures, the average score of the block of the measure, the average score of the main measure and the average score of the implemented measure. We used the methods of descriptive statistics: calculation of average value, comparison of average values, ranking of indicators. Results. The analysis of the results of the questionnaire of the importance of the conducted sanitary and anti-epidemic measures established that, according to the expert opinion, the studied two blocks “sanitary” and “restrictive” measures are characterized by a high level of importance in the regulation of the epidemic process of the new coronavirus infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 and the score was on average for the country -9.2 and 8.3 points; in the Central Federal District - 9.1 and 8.2 points; Tula region - 9.2 and 8.2 points, respectively. In the rating of the most important basic complex measures among all anti-epidemic measures in the country as a whole and in the Central Federal District, according to experts, were the directions for training medical personnel (9.6 points each), in the Tula Region - the organization of COVID-19 testing (9.6 points). In the second place in the Russian Federation and the Central Federal District - organization of COVID-19 testing (9.5 points each), in the Tula Oblast - measures to train medical personnel (9.5 points). The third rank in the Tula Oblast, as in the country as a whole, was occupied by a set of measures to register citizens who have fallen ill and suspected of COVID-19 (9.4 points), in the Central Federal District - provision of medicines and vaccines (9.4 points each). Detailed analysis of the complex of all implemented measures revealed that the following measures were rated with the maximum score, which, according to experts, were classified as high level of importance (9.4-9.6 points): training of staff to work with COVID-19 patients; determination of the order of routing patients with new coronavirus infection and/or pneumonia to hospitals with the provision of increased epidemiological measures; organization of the work of laboratories for COVID-19 tests on the territory of the subject (organization of work and provision of test systems); use of methodological tools and equipment for testing COVID-19 patients. Detailed analysis of the complex of all implemented measures revealed that the following measures were rated with the maximum score, which, according to experts, were classified as high level of importance (9.4-9.6 points): training of staff to work with COVID-19 patients; determination of the order of routing patients with new coronavirus infection and/or pneumonia to hospitals with the provision of increased epidemiological measures; organization of the work of laboratories for COVID-19 tests on the territory of the subject (organization of work and provision of test systems); use of methodological tools and equipment for testing COVID-19 patients. Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic, having not typical characteristics of the epidemic process, has determined the necessity to analyze and in many cases correct the conducted anti-epidemic measures both during its course and after its completion at the current stage of virus circulation in the population. It is not possible to eliminate the virus, but it is necessary to regulate the epidemic process taking into account the accumulated experience. Experts from all regions, assessing the importance of the conducted anti-epidemic measures, noted mainly their high significance. The effectiveness of the conducted measures depends on the timeliness and quality of their implementation, as well as the social responsibility of citizens, which is noted in a number of scientific publications. Scope. The results of the study can be applied in the development of measures, activities aimed at reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Keywords: Anti-epidemic measures; restrictive measures; COVID-19; mortality; morbidity; organization of medical care; pandemic; new coronavirus infection
Ступак et al. (Wed,) studied this question.