Cross-Sectional Online Study of the Psychological Status of Russian Doctors during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background. COVID-19 outbreak resulted in an increased psychological and physical pressure on healthcare professionals worldwide. Doctors treating COVID-19 patients have turned out to be at higher risk of depression, anxiety, psychosomatic disorders. The data about the influence of the pandemic on psychological health of Russian doctors is still missing. Aims to evaluate a psychological status of Russian doctors during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. This cross-sectional online-study was conducted among 133 doctors of different specialties aged 2570 (mean age 43.6 9.9), 112 (84.2%) of the them were females. We assessed the work conditions of the respondents during pandemic, the presence of psychosomatic disorders, depression and anxiety levels by HADS scale. Results. Almost two thirds (82; 61.7%) of the respondents reported an increased workload during the pandemic, 54.1% of them work more than 40 hours per week. The income has risen only in 25.6% of the doctors. Most of the respondents announced a manifestation of one or more psychosomatic disorders during the pandemic. The most frequent complaint was insomnia found in 72 (54.1%) of the doctors. Clinical anxiety was confirmed in 30 (22.6%), clinical depression in 15 (11.3%), moderate anxiety in 22 (16.5%), moderate depression in 31 (23.3%), both clinical anxiety and depression in 6% of the participants. Conclusions. During the pandemic Russian doctors continue to work under physical and psychological pressure and provide medical care even if they have clinical depression and anxiety that influences on patients and doctors wellbeing. Theres still a lack of psychological assistance to doctors and of other methods to prevent professional burn-out.