A Study on the Mental Health and Burnout of Medical Staff Responding to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 / 신경정신의학

Objectives@#This study was conducted to identify the level of mental health and burnout of medical staff at hospitals and public health centers, which responded to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Korea and to suggest appropriate management plans. @*Methods@#The mental health and burnout levels of medical staff responding to COVID-19 were evaluated through an online survey conducted during the period July 1–14, 2021. To analyze the mental health status of the participants according to their demographic characteristics, the chisquare test, t-test, and an analysis of variance were conducted, followed by Scheffe post-hoc tests for pairwise comparisons. @*Results@#A total of 773 participants were included in the study. An analysis of the clinically significant symptoms of the group showed that 29.5% had posttraumatic stress symptoms, 30.6% had depression, 15.8% had anxiety, 39.8% had somatic symptoms, and 4.5% were seen to be at risk of suicide. The average scores for burnout were as follows: 3.55±1.75 for emotional exhaustion, 2.68±1.73 for depersonalization, and 3.89±1.40 for personal accomplishment. Mental health problems and burnout were found to be high in women, those in the 20–39-year age bracket, those with less than 5 years of work experience, and public health center workers. @*Conclusion@#The medical staff responding to COVID-19 were observed to experience high levels of mental health and burnout problems. Work-related characteristics, such as younger age, lower work experience, and employment at a public health center, may have a negative impact on mental health and cause burnout. Therefore, individualized and systemic support for mental health and to prevent the burnout of medical staff responding to cases of COVID-19 is needed.

Burnout and Its Associated Factors Among COVID-19Frontline Healthcare Workers / 신경정신의학

Objectives@#This study was conducted to evaluate burnout and its associated factors among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) frontline healthcare workers. @*Methods@#We analyzed the nationwide burnout evaluation scale data collected from 774 COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers in South Korea from July 1 to 14, 2021. Along with demographic variables and work-related information, the Maslach Burnout Inventory–General Survey and the list of stress factors were used to assess burnout and its associated stressors. @*Results@#The study participants were predominantly female (86.2%) and the majority were nurses (78.8%). Among them, 53.0% felt emotionally exhausted, 34.5% were cynical, and 45.5% experienced decreased professional efficacy. The most common stressors were “insufficient rewards” (85.0%) and “excessive workload” (72.5%). Factors such as excessive workload, interpersonal relationships at work, and stress from insufficient rewards were correlated with higher levels of exhaustion and increased cynicism. Insufficient rewards and stress about family infection were associated with increased professional efficacy. @*Conclusion@#Stress related to the work environment, rather than that from potential infection, was associated with exhaustion and cynicism in the COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers.

Sands of the Sahara Syndrome

We experienced 5 cases of diffuse lamellar keratitis or Sands of the Sahara syndrome, which have not been reported in Korea. Patients complained of blurred vision or ocular discomfort 1 or 2 days after LASIK. They showed diffuse infiltrates confined to the flap interface with no posterior or anterior extension and had no anterior chamber reaction. The diffuse infiltrates responded well to steroid or antibiotic/steroid eyedrops showing diminution of infiltrates within 3 to 4 days of therapy. The best corrective visual acuities were 0.8 to 1. 0 around 1 month after surgery.

The Congruity between the Optical Center of Spectacles and Pupillary Center

This study was performed to survey the congruities between the optical centers and pupillary centers and to bring out the optical health in Korea. One hundred outpatient were enrolled in this study, whose visual acuities were better than 20/40 with their glasses. We investigated the difference between interpupillary and interoptical center distance, the horizontal and vertical balance of optical centers, and the relation between optical decentering and dizziness. Thirty-six percent of spectacles were revealed to have inappropriate optical centers. In 25(69%) of 36 inappropriate spectacles, the difference between interpupillary distances and interoptical distances was over 4.0mm. In 7(47%) of 15 patients who complained of dizziness, optical centers were decentered. A large number of patients were wearing the optically decentered spectacles. The patients who complain of dizziness are needed to have the position of the optical centers of their spectacles checked.

The Congruity between the Optical Center of Spectacles and Pupillary Center

This study was performed to survey the congruities between the optical centers and pupillary centers and to bring out the optical health in Korea. One hundred outpatient were enrolled in this study, whose visual acuities were better than 20/40 with their glasses. We investigated the difference between interpupillary and interoptical center distance, the horizontal and vertical balance of optical centers, and the relation between optical decentering and dizziness. Thirty-six percent of spectacles were revealed to have inappropriate optical centers. In 25(69%) of 36 inappropriate spectacles, the difference between interpupillary distances and interoptical distances was over 4.0mm. In 7(47%) of 15 patients who complained of dizziness, optical centers were decentered. A large number of patients were wearing the optically decentered spectacles. The patients who complain of dizziness are needed to have the position of the optical centers of their spectacles checked.