Coping with depression and anxiety in Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency with a negative impact on mental health. Healthcare workers are one of the most vulnerable groups to psychological stress in pandemics especially COVID-19. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed depression, stress, and coping...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Middle East Current Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43045-020-00070-9 |
| _version_ | 1819007927514562560 |
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| author | Ola Osama Khalaf Mohamed A. Khalil Reham Abdelmaksoud |
| author_facet | Ola Osama Khalaf Mohamed A. Khalil Reham Abdelmaksoud |
| author_sort | Ola Osama Khalaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency with a negative impact on mental health. Healthcare workers are one of the most vulnerable groups to psychological stress in pandemics especially COVID-19. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed depression, stress, and coping among a sample of Egyptian physicians using an electronic survey. 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%), in medical specialties (51.2%), and living with vulnerable family members (92.4 %). 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 had significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores of DASS than male physicians (p = 0.001, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). The 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 a significantly negative correlation with DASS anxiety (p = 0.031) and stress scores (p = 0.037). The BRCS score had a significantly negative correlation with the depression, anxiety, and stress scales of DASS (p = 0.018, 0.014, and 0.007 respectively). Conclusion The 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:32:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8380af7f8ee041d9b70dcf42553a4dc1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2090-5416 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:32:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Middle East Current Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-8380af7f8ee041d9b70dcf42553a4dc12022-12-21T19:21:51ZengSpringerOpenMiddle East Current Psychiatry2090-54162020-11-012711710.1186/s43045-020-00070-9Coping with depression and anxiety in Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemicOla Osama Khalaf0Mohamed A. Khalil1Reham Abdelmaksoud2Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityPsychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityPsychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency with a negative impact on mental health. Healthcare workers are one of the most vulnerable groups to psychological stress in pandemics especially COVID-19. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed depression, stress, and coping among a sample of Egyptian physicians using an electronic survey. 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%), in medical specialties (51.2%), and living with vulnerable family members (92.4 %). 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 had significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores of DASS than male physicians (p = 0.001, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). The 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 a significantly negative correlation with DASS anxiety (p = 0.031) and stress scores (p = 0.037). The BRCS score had a significantly negative correlation with the depression, anxiety, and stress scales of DASS (p = 0.018, 0.014, and 0.007 respectively). Conclusion The 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.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43045-020-00070-9COVID-19HealthcarePhysiciansDepressionAnxietyStress |
| spellingShingle | Ola Osama Khalaf Mohamed A. Khalil Reham Abdelmaksoud Coping with depression and anxiety in Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemic Middle East Current Psychiatry COVID-19 Healthcare Physicians Depression Anxiety Stress |
| title | Coping with depression and anxiety in Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Coping with depression and anxiety in Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Coping with depression and anxiety in Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coping with depression and anxiety in Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Coping with depression and anxiety in Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | coping with depression and anxiety in egyptian physicians during covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | COVID-19 Healthcare Physicians Depression Anxiety Stress |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43045-020-00070-9 |
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