Levels and Predictors of Anxiety, Depression, and Burnout Syndrome in Physicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study intended to observe mental symptoms among physicians in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate the factors leading to such symptoms. The study participants were contacted via their smartphones between April 23 and 27, 2020, and invited to fill out an online questionnaire which included questions from the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The mean age of the 406 physicians who participated in the study was 42.9 +/- 10.1 years, and 53.4% were men (n: 217). During the pandemic, 66.7% had decreased working hours. Lack of COVID-related training, difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment (PPE), working in a COVID unit, and current psychiatric disease were found to be among the predictors of emotional burnout. Female gender, lack of COVID training, difficulty obtaining PPE, working in a COVID unit, and current psychiatric disease predicted desensitization. Facilitating continuous and comprehensive support mechanisms aimed at protecting physicians' mental health is of great importance during epidemics.

Automated summary

This study aimed to observe mental symptoms among physicians in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate factors leading to such symptoms. Findings showed that lack of COVID-related training, difficulty obtaining PPE, working in a COVID unit, and current psychiatric disease were predictors of emotional burnout and desensitization among physicians. Continuous and comprehensive support mechanisms to protect physicians' mental health are crucial during epidemics.