Physician challenges and supports during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study
IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians encountered significant COVID-19-related negative experiences and psychological distress in both their personal and professional lives. To understand the factors that negatively impact physician well-being, a number of studies have pointed to mult...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1055495/full |
| _version_ | 1811177974642245632 |
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| author | Myia S. Williams Myia S. Williams Myia S. Williams Laura Ryniker Laura Ryniker Laura Ryniker Rebecca M. Schwartz Rebecca M. Schwartz Rebecca M. Schwartz Rebecca M. Schwartz Pooja Shaam Pooja Shaam Pooja Shaam Kayla D. Finuf Kayla D. Finuf Samantha S. Corley Samantha S. Corley Samantha S. Corley Nidhi Parashar Nidhi Parashar John Q. Young John Q. Young Mayer H. Bellehsen Mayer H. Bellehsen Sophia Jan Sophia Jan Sophia Jan |
| author_facet | Myia S. Williams Myia S. Williams Myia S. Williams Laura Ryniker Laura Ryniker Laura Ryniker Rebecca M. Schwartz Rebecca M. Schwartz Rebecca M. Schwartz Rebecca M. Schwartz Pooja Shaam Pooja Shaam Pooja Shaam Kayla D. Finuf Kayla D. Finuf Samantha S. Corley Samantha S. Corley Samantha S. Corley Nidhi Parashar Nidhi Parashar John Q. Young John Q. Young Mayer H. Bellehsen Mayer H. Bellehsen Sophia Jan Sophia Jan Sophia Jan |
| author_sort | Myia S. Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians encountered significant COVID-19-related negative experiences and psychological distress in both their personal and professional lives. To understand the factors that negatively impact physician well-being, a number of studies have pointed to multiple work system factors such as excessive workload and workflow interruptions. In addition, studies have shown that positive interpersonal relationships that provide social support may also serve as a buffering role against psychological distress. The aim of our study explores the challenges and sources of support for physicians relative to mental health symptoms.MethodsIn this study, We used a cross-sectional study design with a convergent parallel mixed method approach combining both qualitative and quantitative data collected in parallel from a self-report questionnaire immediately following the first wave of COVID-19. The aim of our study explores the challenges and sources of support for physicians relative to mental health symptoms.ResultsOf the 457 physicians in the study, the most frequently potential negative occupational experiences were, “Being at risk of contracting COVID-19 from patients/co-workers” (90.5%) and “Contact with distressed family members who cannot be with a loved one” (69.5%). We identified five common themes for main sources of social support (e.g. emotional support from family/friends) and six themes for challenges (e.g., work-related demands exacerbated by the pandemic).DiscussionOur study highlights COVID-19 and other pandemic-related challenges that negatively impacted the mental health of physicians. Interventions that provide targeted organizational supports (e.g. sufficient PPE and child support), as well as specific sources of support (e.g. family and emotional), can attenuate those challenges and stressors experienced during a pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:10:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-063c5e022e294f39b61efebb92b04a54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:10:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-063c5e022e294f39b61efebb92b04a542022-12-22T04:41:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402022-12-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.10554951055495Physician challenges and supports during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods studyMyia S. Williams0Myia S. Williams1Myia S. Williams2Laura Ryniker3Laura Ryniker4Laura Ryniker5Rebecca M. Schwartz6Rebecca M. Schwartz7Rebecca M. Schwartz8Rebecca M. Schwartz9Pooja Shaam10Pooja Shaam11Pooja Shaam12Kayla D. Finuf13Kayla D. Finuf14Samantha S. Corley15Samantha S. Corley16Samantha S. Corley17Nidhi Parashar18Nidhi Parashar19John Q. Young20John Q. Young21Mayer H. Bellehsen22Mayer H. Bellehsen23Sophia Jan24Sophia Jan25Sophia Jan26Department of Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United StatesDonald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, Hempstead, NY, United StatesInstitute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United StatesInstitute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United StatesDepartment of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, Great Neck, NY, United StatesCenter for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery at Northwell Health, Great Neck, NY, United StatesDonald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, Hempstead, NY, United StatesInstitute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United StatesDepartment of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, Great Neck, NY, United StatesCenter for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery at Northwell Health, Great Neck, NY, United StatesInstitute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United StatesDepartment of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, Great Neck, NY, United StatesCenter for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery at Northwell Health, Great Neck, NY, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United StatesDonald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, Hempstead, NY, United StatesInstitute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United StatesDepartment of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, Great Neck, NY, United StatesCenter for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery at Northwell Health, Great Neck, NY, United StatesDonald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, Hempstead, NY, United StatesDivision of General Pediatrics, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY, United StatesDonald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, Hempstead, NY, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, Zucker Hillside Hospital at Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, United StatesCenter for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery at Northwell Health, Great Neck, NY, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, Zucker Hillside Hospital at Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, United StatesDonald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, Hempstead, NY, United StatesInstitute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry and Resident Mental Health Program, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, United StatesIntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians encountered significant COVID-19-related negative experiences and psychological distress in both their personal and professional lives. To understand the factors that negatively impact physician well-being, a number of studies have pointed to multiple work system factors such as excessive workload and workflow interruptions. In addition, studies have shown that positive interpersonal relationships that provide social support may also serve as a buffering role against psychological distress. The aim of our study explores the challenges and sources of support for physicians relative to mental health symptoms.MethodsIn this study, We used a cross-sectional study design with a convergent parallel mixed method approach combining both qualitative and quantitative data collected in parallel from a self-report questionnaire immediately following the first wave of COVID-19. The aim of our study explores the challenges and sources of support for physicians relative to mental health symptoms.ResultsOf the 457 physicians in the study, the most frequently potential negative occupational experiences were, “Being at risk of contracting COVID-19 from patients/co-workers” (90.5%) and “Contact with distressed family members who cannot be with a loved one” (69.5%). We identified five common themes for main sources of social support (e.g. emotional support from family/friends) and six themes for challenges (e.g., work-related demands exacerbated by the pandemic).DiscussionOur study highlights COVID-19 and other pandemic-related challenges that negatively impacted the mental health of physicians. Interventions that provide targeted organizational supports (e.g. sufficient PPE and child support), as well as specific sources of support (e.g. family and emotional), can attenuate those challenges and stressors experienced during a pandemic.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1055495/fullCOVID-19pandemicphysicianmental healthchallengessupports |
| spellingShingle | Myia S. Williams Myia S. Williams Myia S. Williams Laura Ryniker Laura Ryniker Laura Ryniker Rebecca M. Schwartz Rebecca M. Schwartz Rebecca M. Schwartz Rebecca M. Schwartz Pooja Shaam Pooja Shaam Pooja Shaam Kayla D. Finuf Kayla D. Finuf Samantha S. Corley Samantha S. Corley Samantha S. Corley Nidhi Parashar Nidhi Parashar John Q. Young John Q. Young Mayer H. Bellehsen Mayer H. Bellehsen Sophia Jan Sophia Jan Sophia Jan Physician challenges and supports during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study Frontiers in Psychiatry COVID-19 pandemic physician mental health challenges supports |
| title | Physician challenges and supports during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study |
| title_full | Physician challenges and supports during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study |
| title_fullStr | Physician challenges and supports during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physician challenges and supports during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study |
| title_short | Physician challenges and supports during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study |
| title_sort | physician challenges and supports during the first wave of the covid 19 pandemic a mixed methods study |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemic physician mental health challenges supports |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1055495/full |
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