Psychologic Welfare and Burnout of Medical Students after COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Poland

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: In this study, we intended to examine the psychological welfare, burnout, and stress-related coping mechanisms of medical students at the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland. Under the hypothesis that depressive symptoms and screening for problem alcohol drinking would predict the risk of burnout, we intended to study the relationship between selected variables (e.g., demographic and socioeconomic) and burnout risk and the effects of abandonment of social isolation restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Methods: Medical students completed an online survey assessing general mental health and stress coping mechanisms. We used copies of the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9); Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire; and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), to quantify depressive symptoms, screen for problematic alcohol drinking, and assess the risk of burnout. Results: The mean total OLBI score ± standard deviation was 44.6 ± 7.3 (N = 700), with 91.1% of participants scoring ≥ 35 points. Female students had significantly higher total and exhaustion domain OLBI scores than their male counterparts (p < 0.05). About 76% of all respondents reported high levels of studies-related stress and 44% of survey participants agreed/strongly agreed that they considered dropping out of university courses due to the stress. The suicidal/self-harm ideations were found in 33.6% of students. Most students (64.4%) were screened positively for moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms, and 19% of them for risky alcohol use. Students with OLBI scores ≥ 35 achieved notably higher PHQ-9 and CAGE results. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that PHQ-9 (p < 0.05) and CAGE (p < 0.05) questionnaire significantly predicted the OLBI score. Conclusion: Medical students are a vulnerable group at risk of developing mental health problems. A great number of survey participants screened positively for the presence of depressive symptoms, risky alcohol use, and burnout. The PHQ-9, and CAGE results, was significant predictor of OLBI outcomes. The improvement of COVID-19 pandemic-related social isolation restrictions did not produce a marked improvement in somatic/mental health-related quantifiers as compared to the time of strict social restrictions.