Anxiety, Depression and Behavioural Changes in Junior Doctors and Medical Students Associated with the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Introduction Medical students are known to have high levels of depression, anxiety and stress from the high-pressure environments that they study and train in. The coronavirus pandemic presents source of stress and anxiety to large populations in general, and to healthcare professionals in particular. This study was undertaken to assess the psychological effects of this pandemic on the mental health of medical students and trainees. Materials and Methods An online questionnaire was designed to capture information on the participant’s anxieties related to the pandemic and included a validated tool for the assessment of anxiety and depression symptoms (GAD-7 and PHQ-9, respectively). The questionnaire was prepared on Google Forms, and the link to the questionnaire was disseminated to 113 medical students and junior doctors on 19 April 2020, and the survey closed on 22 April 2020 midnight. Results The survey was sent to 113 students, and 83 students participated. Of the participants, 47 (56.6%) were female and 36 (43.4%) were male, and 80 (96.4%) were aged less than 30 years old. Formal anxiety and depression scores using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 tools indicated 15/82 (18.3%) had anxiety scores of 0 (lowest possible) and 21/82 (25.6%) had the lowest possible depression score of 0. However, 6/82 (7.3%) had scores that were classified as severe depression. Females had significantly higher median anxiety (5 v 2, p < 0.002) and depression scores (5 v 3, p = 0.025) than male participants. Direct patient care and care of patients with Covid-19 did not result in significant deterioration in anxiety and depression. Conclusion Female students/junior doctors showed higher anxiety and depression scores than males. Direct patient care and care of patients with Covid-19 did not result in a measurable deterioration in anxiety and depression in this study. In this stressful pandemic situation, it is imperative to look after the mental health of healthcare workers as well as patients.

COVID-19 pandemic and psychological wellbeing among health care workers and general population: A systematic-review and meta-analysis of the current evidence from India

“…Details and outcomes related to the mental health of included articles are provided in Table 1 . 3 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 All 22 cross-sectional studies were carried out in the Indian population, with age ranging from 12 to 82 years, and the majority of study participants were above 18 years. These 22 studies enrolled a total of 9947 participants, including 5542 (55.7%) males and 4405 (44.3%) females.…”

“… Gupta et al 3 July- 2020 Across India Cross-sectional 1124 Health care workers (HCWs) – 718 (63.88%) Online survey HADS Scale HADS score 8 & above Depression & anxiety Khanna et al 25 June- 2020 Across India Cross-sectional 2355 Ophthalmologists Mean age: (42.5 ± 12.05), Range: 25-82 1332 (56.56%) Online survey PHQ-9 - Depression Mishra et al 26 June- 2020 Across India Cross-sectional 716 Ophthalmology trainees Mean age: (29.1 ± 3.14), Range: 23-45 275 (38.41%) Online survey self-reported questionnaire - Stress Muruganandam et al 27 June- 2020 South India Cross-sectional 132 patients diagnosed with severe mental illness [SMI] and their primary caregivers Mean age: (33.9 ± 10.9), Range: 21-52 63 (47.73%) Telephonic survey 23- item questionnaire - Impaired sleep, suicidal ideas and taking substances or illegal drugs. Pandey et al 28 September-2020 Uttar-Pradesh Cross-sectional 83 Final year medical students and Obstetrics and Gynaecology trainees 80 (96.4%) wer...…”

Depression, anxiety, and stress and socio-demographic correlates among general Indian public during COVID-19

“…Similarly doctors, nurses and other health care professionals were misbehaved and attacked by the public (A. Pandey, 2020; V. Pandey, 2020).…”

Medical education challenges and innovations during COVID-19 pandemic

“…[53][54][55] Imposition of unfamiliar public health measures including social distancing and lockdown, social fear related to COVID-19, closures of universities, fear of being infected by the SARS-CoV-2, anxiety for their removal from clinical practice, worry about older relatives and the abrupt swift to a new reality have negative impact on the psychological well-being of medical students. 56 While individual studies from Turkey, India and Iran and European countries like Malta [57][58][59][60][61] showed that the prevalence of depression and anxiety in medical students was significantly high, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that the prevalence of anxiety in medical students is similar to that prior to the pandemic. 49 Interestingly, a cross-sectional study showed that medical students' burnout syndrome, depression, anxiety and somatic symptoms rates decreased during online learning.…”