The psychological burden varied among doctors during the covid-19 pandemic

Background   This study investigates medical doctors’ psychological distress, posttraumatic stress symptoms and sleep problems during covid-19 pandemic.

Methods   From spring 2020 to summer 2022, the personnel of the HUS Helsinki University Hospital were invited to participate in a prospective longitudinal survey study on psychological burden, 19% of hospital personnel participated. We report the doctors’ responses (n = 435) to enquiries on psychological distress (Mental Health Index, MHI-5 questionnaire), posttraumatic stress symptoms (Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM5, PC-PTSD-5) and sleep problems (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI questionnaire). We used multilevel logistic regression to model the effects of profession and potentially traumatic events on risk of significant psychological distress.

Results   Doctors had less psychological risk and sleep problems and a lower risk of significant distress compared to the other personnel. Resident doctors who participated in care of covid-19 patients had more psychological distress compared to other resident doctors (OR = 5.82, CI = 1.51-22.48). Experiencing potentially traumatic covid-19-related events generally increased risk of psychological distress (OR = 3.87, CI = 3.35-4.48).

Conclusions   The psychosocial support needs of resident doctors who treat infection patients need to be taken into account in future pandemics.