Impact of the COVID-19 Surge on Phototherapy in Taiwan: Experience From a University Hospital

The study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on phototherapy in a university hospital in Taiwan, focusing on the period 5 months before and after the first surge of COVID-19 from May to July 2021. The surge led to the temporary closure of the phototherapeutic unit. A total of 981 patients received phototherapy during the study period, with vitiligo and psoriasis patients making up the largest groups. After the phototherapeutic unit reopened, the number of patients receiving phototherapy (413) was similar to the number before the closure (~400). However, only about 40% of vitiligo and psoriasis patients resumed phototherapy after the temporary closure. There was no significant difference in age, gender, and number of sessions received per week between patients who resumed or stopped phototherapy after the closure. Patients who initiated phototherapy after the closure received more sessions per week than those who resumed phototherapy. The study concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted patients undergoing phototherapy, and new strategies and continuous education are needed to improve patient management during pandemics.