Abstract

Background

Among healthcare professionals working with COVID-19 patients, general practitioners (GPs) are under considerable pressure and may develop adverse mental health outcomes.

Objectives

To assess mental health outcomes on GPs working during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore their associations with personal characteristics and features of GP practices.

Methods

Observational cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of GPs working in Verona province (Italy) during the first pandemic wave. Participants were invited to complete a web-based form addressing socio-demographic and work-related information, previous practice organization, practice re-organization during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a set of measures for post-traumatic stress (IES-R), anxiety (SAS), depression (PHQ-9), and burnout (MBI-GS).

Results

A total of 215 GPs (38.3% of the eligible population) participated. Overall, 44.7% reported COVID-19-related traumatic events; among these, 35.9% (95% CI, 26%‒46%) developed symptoms of post-traumatic distress. Furthermore, 36% (95% CI, 29%‒43%) reported symptoms of anxiety, 17.9% (95% CI, 12%‒23%) symptoms of at least moderate depression, and 25.4% (95% CI, 19%‒32%) symptoms of burnout. Multivariate regressions showed that being quarantined or admitted for COVID-19 was associated with all the mental health outcomes considered. Being female, working in rural settings, and having less professional experience were associated with higher anxiety and depression. The ability to diagnose COVID-19 increased self-perceived professional efficacy, thus contributing to burnout reduction.

Conclusion

The high prevalence of adverse mental health outcomes among GPs during the pandemic highlights the importance of timely interventions in this population and promoting targeted preventive actions in the event of future healthcare crises.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 对意大利维罗纳省初级保健医生的心理影响：第一次大流行期间的横断面研究

摘要

背景

在与 COVID-19 患者打交道的医疗保健专业人员中，全科医生 (GP) 承受着相当大的压力，可能会出现不良的心理健康结果。

目标

评估在 COVID-19 大流行期间工作的 GP 的心理健康结果，并探索它们与个人特征和 GP 实践特征的关联。

方法

对第一波大流行期间在维罗纳省（意大利）工作的全科医生样本进行的观察性横断面研究。参与者被邀请填写一份基于网络的表格，其中涉及社会人口统计和工作相关信息、以前的实践组织、COVID-19 大流行期间的实践重组，以及一套创伤后压力措施 (IES-R) 、焦虑 (SAS)、抑郁 (PHQ-9) 和倦怠 (MBI-GS)。

结果

共有 215 名全科医生（占合格人口的 38.3%）参与。总体而言，44.7% 的人报告了与 COVID-19 相关的创伤事件；其中，35.9%（95% CI，26%-46%）出现创伤后痛苦症状。此外，36%（95% CI，29%-43%）报告有焦虑症状，17.9%（95% CI，12%-23%）至少有中度抑郁症状，25.4%（95% CI，19%） ‒32%) 的倦怠症状。多元回归表明，因 COVID-19 被隔离或入院与所有考虑的心理健康结果相关。身为女性、在农村工作以及专业经验较少与较高的焦虑和抑郁有关。诊断 COVID-19 的能力提高了自我感知的职业效能，从而有助于减少职业倦怠。

结论

在大流行期间，全科医生中不良心理健康结果的高发率凸显了及时干预这一人群并在未来发生医疗危机时促进有针对性的预防措施的重要性。