A Study to Evaluate the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Junior Doctors of a Government Medical College in West Bengal

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had posed huge challenges to junior doctors as they had to work as frontline health workers during this emergency. Objectives: To evaluate the mental health status of junior doctors during the present pandemic using Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and impact of even scale-revised (IES-R) scale scores. Methods and Participants: This longitudinal study was conducted over a time period of 8 months after taking Institutional Ethical Clearance and informed consent of 220 participants. This online survey was conducted using Google Forms and DASS-21 and IES-R scores were evaluated twice in an interval of 6 months. Results: Depression scores, anxiety scores, and stress scores were significantly increased on the second assessment. Gradation of depression, anxiety, and stress in month 1 among participants were as follows: Depression scores (normal; mild; moderate; severe; extremely severe): 82; 40; 52; 33; 13. Anxiety scores (normal; mild; moderate; severe; extremely severe): 113; 21; 55; 16; 15. Stress scores (normal; mild; moderate; severe; extremely severe): 137; 33; 41; 8; 1. ISE-R scores: <24 = 98; 24–32 = 39; 33–36 = 15; ≥37 = 68. Gradation of depression, anxiety, and stress in month 6 were the following: Depression scores (normal; mild; moderate; severe; extremely severe): 50; 19; 63; 26; 62. Anxiety scores (normal; mild; moderate; severe; extremely severe): 34; 5; 67; 25; 89. Stress scores (normal; mild; moderate; severe; extremely severe): 61; 12; 42; 38; 67. ISE-R Scores: <24 = 73; 24–32 = 34; 33–36 = 11; ≥37 = 102. Conclusions: Junior doctors working during the COVID-19 pandemic developed increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression with the progression of the pandemic. They were the major frontline health workers to combat COVID-19 which may be the cause of their decreased psychological resilience resulting in mental health issues. Psychological counseling sessions can be used among these young doctors to build up their mental resilience.