The Mental Well-Being of Frontline Physicians Working in Civil Wars Under Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Conditions

Abstract

Background and Objective: Emergency medical physicians are regarded as essential frontline staff in combating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These health-care workers are faced with significant stressors in addition to the usual stress felt in their regular work. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and burnout among emergency physicians on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.Method: Using a cross-sectional study methodology, we surveyed physicians active on April 2020 to study depression and anxiety [using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)] and burnout [using the Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI) scale].Results: A total of 154 emergency physicians completed the survey. We found that about 65.6% of patients were experiencing anxiety (based on a HADS score ≥ 11), and 73.4% were displaying depressive symptoms. For burnout, three subscales indicated that 67.5% endured emotional exhaustion, and 48.1% experienced depersonalization (defined as a score of ≥10 on aMBI). A total of 21.4% of respondents perceived a sense of personal underachievement, defined as a score of <10 via aMBI.Conclusion: Physicians' psychological status is crucial and plays a major role in their well-being, affecting their work satisfaction. Therefore, implementing strategies aimed at decreasing the impact of stressful events is crucial to alleviate the distress experienced by physicians on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Factors Associated With Burnout, Post-traumatic Stress and Anxio-Depressive Symptoms in Healthcare Workers 3 Months Into the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study

“…Our results are comparable to some similar studies in the literature published since the beginning of the pandemic (11,57,(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70). Indeed, among the studies with a similar design as ours, e.g., a cross-sectional study with the aim of verifying factors associated with per-pandemic psychological distress (burnout, psychopathologies) in healthcare workers, the rates of distress and the factors reported are similar to what we present here.…”

“…Notably, several studies have shown high rates of burnout (64,66,67,69,70), which are comparable to the 51.8% reported here. However, the factors associated with the development of burnout sometimes differ from the ones we found, with reports of workload, type of employment and participation in training programs, all of which were not found to be significant in our study.…”

“…Indeed, among the studies with a similar design as ours, e.g., a cross-sectional study with the aim of verifying factors associated with per-pandemic psychological distress (burnout, psychopathologies) in healthcare workers, the rates of distress and the factors reported are similar to what we present here. Notably, several studies have shown high rates of burnout ( 64 , 66 , 67 , 69 , 70 ), which are comparable to the 51.8% reported here. However, the factors associated with the development of burnout sometimes differ from the ones we found, with reports of workload, type of employment and participation in training programs, all of which were not found to be significant in our study.…”

SARS/MERS/SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks and Burnout Syndrome among Healthcare Workers. An Umbrella Systematic Review

“…Studies have highlighted the presence of BOS in workers struggling with COVID-19 patients. HCWs include frontline nurses in emergency departments [47] and ICUs [48], Libyan [49] or Indian [50] physicians, Spanish nurses [51], Japanese radiological technologists and pharmacists [52], and others. A state of persistent burnout, that influenced sleep quality, was observed in a longitudinal study on a small group of HCWs [53].…”

Associations between the working experiences at frontline of COVID-19 pandemic and mental health of Korean public health doctors

“…After working experiences at frontline of COVID-10 pandemic, about 24.7–50.4%, 19.8–44.6%, and 21.9–71.5% of healthcare professionals in China or Italy reported depressive mood, anxiety, and perceived distress, which were higher prevalence compared to those at baseline (=prior to the working experiences at frontline of COVID-19 pandemic) [ 41 – 44 ]. In addition, lowered self-efficacy at work (or a lower sense of personal accomplishment) was also reported from 21.4–22.7% of healthcare professionals of Libya during COVID-19 pandemic [ 45 , 46 ]. For the cases of MERS outbreak, 26.6% of doctors who dealt with the MERS outbreak in South Korea [ 38 ] and 27.5% of doctors responding to the SARS outbreak in Taiwan exhibited depression [ 47 ].…”