Coping with Depression and Anxiety in Egyptian Physicians during COVID-19 Pandemic
Background: COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency with negative impact on mental health. Health care workers are one of the most vulnerable groups to psychological stress in Pandemics especially COVID -19. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the depression, stress and coping among a sample of Egyptian Physicians using an electronic survey was sent. It included demographic data, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS).
Results: We found that the majority of the sample were females (61.2%), medical specialties (51.2%) and (92.4 %) were living with vulnerable family members. The majority (63%) suffered from severe or extremely severe depression, 77.6% had extremely severe anxiety and 72% suffered from stress. BRCS showed that only 17.1% had high resilient coping. Female physicians were significantly higher in the depression, anxiety and stress scales of DASS than male physicians (p= 0.001, <0.001 and <0.001 respectively). Anxiety scale was significantly higher in those with chronic diseases (p= 0.040) while the stress scale was lower significantly in those with higher academic degree (p= 0.034). Age had significantly negative correlation with DASS anxiety (p= 0.031) and stress scores (p= 0.037). The BRCS score had significantly negative correlation with the depression, anxiety and stress scales of DASS (p= 0.018, 0.014 and 0.007 respectively).
Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on the psychological well-being of the studied Egyptian physicians. Prophylactic measures should be implemented to avoid development of psychiatric symptoms in physicians.
Posted 29 Sep, 2020
Coping with Depression and Anxiety in Egyptian Physicians during COVID-19 Pandemic
Posted 29 Sep, 2020
Background: COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency with negative impact on mental health. Health care workers are one of the most vulnerable groups to psychological stress in Pandemics especially COVID -19. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the depression, stress and coping among a sample of Egyptian Physicians using an electronic survey was sent. It included demographic data, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS).
Results: We found that the majority of the sample were females (61.2%), medical specialties (51.2%) and (92.4 %) were living with vulnerable family members. The majority (63%) suffered from severe or extremely severe depression, 77.6% had extremely severe anxiety and 72% suffered from stress. BRCS showed that only 17.1% had high resilient coping. Female physicians were significantly higher in the depression, anxiety and stress scales of DASS than male physicians (p= 0.001, <0.001 and <0.001 respectively). Anxiety scale was significantly higher in those with chronic diseases (p= 0.040) while the stress scale was lower significantly in those with higher academic degree (p= 0.034). Age had significantly negative correlation with DASS anxiety (p= 0.031) and stress scores (p= 0.037). The BRCS score had significantly negative correlation with the depression, anxiety and stress scales of DASS (p= 0.018, 0.014 and 0.007 respectively).
Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on the psychological well-being of the studied Egyptian physicians. Prophylactic measures should be implemented to avoid development of psychiatric symptoms in physicians.