Humans not heroes: Canadian emergency physician experiences during the early COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The pandemic has upended much clinical care, irrevocably changing our health systems and thrusting emergency physicians into a time of great uncertainty and change. This study is a follow-up to a survey that examined the early pandemic experience among Canadian emergency physicians and aimed to qualitatively describe the experiences of these physicians during the global pandemic. The study was conducted at a time when Canadian COVID-19 case numbers were low. METHODS: The investigators engaged in an interview-based study that used an interpretive description analytic technique, sensitised by the principles of phenomenology. One-to-one interviews were conducted, transcribed and then analysed to establish a codebook, which was subsequently grouped into key themes. Results underwent source triangulation (with survey data from a similar period) and investigator-driven audit trail analysis. RESULTS: A total of 16 interviews (11 female, 5 male) were conducted between May and September 2020. The isolated themes on emergency physicians' experiences during the early pandemic included: (1) disruption and loss of emergency department shift work; (2) stress of COVID-19 uncertainty and information bombardment; (3) increased team bonding; (4) greater personal life stress; (5) concern for patients' isolation, miscommunication and disconnection from care; (6) emotional distress. CONCLUSIONS: Canadian emergency physicians experienced emotional and psychological distress during the early COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when COVID-19 prevalence was low. This study's findings could guide future interventions to protect emergency physicians against pandemic-related distress.

Canadian emergency medicine physician burnout: a survey of Canadian emergency physicians during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: A previous survey of Canadian emergency medicine (EM) physicians during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic documented less than 20% experienced high levels of burnout. This study examined the experience of a similar group of physicians during the second pandemic wave. We reported the associations between burnout and physician age, gender, having children at home and training route. METHODS: This study utilized a national survey of Canadian emergency physicians. We collected data on demographics and measured burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Multiple logistic regression models identified associations between the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization domains of the MBI and EM physician demographics (age, gender, children living at home, and training route). RESULTS: Between November 25, 2020, and February 4, 2021, 416 emergency physicians completed the survey, representing all Provinces or Territories in Canada (except Nunavut). The mean participant age was 44, 53% were male, 64% had children living at home and 41% were FRCPC and 41% CCFP-EM trained. Sixty percent reported high burnout (either high emotional exhaustion and/or high depersonalization). Increasing age was associated with lower emotional exhaustion and depersonalization; female or nonbinary gender was associated with an increase in emotional exhaustion; and having children living at home was associated with lower depersonalization. CONCLUSIONS: Most Canadian emergency physicians participating in our study during the COVID-19 pandemic reported high burnout levels. Younger physicians and female physicians were more likely than their coworkers to report high burnout levels. Hospitals should address emergency physician burnout during the pandemic because it is a threat to quality of patient care and retention of the workforce for the future.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Une enquête précédente sur les médecins d'urgence canadiens pendant la première vague de la pandémie de COVID-19 a montré que moins de 20 % d'entre eux souffraient de niveaux élevés d'épuisement professionnel. Cette étude a examiné l'expérience d'un groupe similaire de médecins au cours de la deuxième vague et a rapporté les associations entre l'épuisement professionnel et l'âge du médecin, son sexe, le fait d'avoir des enfants à la maison et le parcours de formation. MéTHODES: Cette étude s'est appuyée sur une enquête nationale auprès des médecins d'urgence canadiens. Nous avons recueilli des données démographiques et mesuré le burnout à l'aide du Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). De multiples modèles de régression logistique ont identifié des associations entre les domaines de l'épuisement émotionnel et de la dépersonnalisation du MBI et les données démographiques des médecins de la médecine d'urgence (âge, sexe, enfants vivant à la maison et parcours de formation). RéSULTATS: Entre le 25 novembre 2020 et le 4 février 2021, 416 médecins urgentistes ont répondu au sondage, représentant toutes les provinces ou territoires du Canada (sauf le Nunavut). L'âge moyen des participants était de 44 ans, 53% étaient des hommes, 64% avaient des enfants vivant à la maison et 41% étaient formés FRCPC et 41% CMFC-MU. Soixante pour cent ont signalé un épuisement professionnel élevé (soit un épuisement émotionnel élevé et/ou une dépersonnalisation élevée). L'augmentation de l'âge était associée à une diminution de l'épuisement émotionnel et de la dépersonnalisation ; le sexe féminin ou non binaire était associé à une augmentation de l'épuisement émotionnel ; et le fait d'avoir des enfants vivant à la maison était associé à une diminution de la dépersonnalisation. CONCLUSIONS: La plupart des médecins urgentistes canadiens ayant participé à notre étude pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 ont signalé des niveaux élevés d'épuisement professionnel. Les médecins plus jeunes et les femmes médecins étaient plus susceptibles que leurs collègues de déclarer des niveaux élevés d'épuisement professionnel. Les hôpitaux doivent s'attaquer au problème de l'épuisement professionnel des médecins urgentistes pendant la pandémie, car il constitue une menace pour la qualité des soins aux patients et la rétention de la main-d'œuvre pour l'avenir.

Canadian emergency physician psychological distress and burnout during the first 10 weeks of COVID-19: A mixed-methods study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report burnout time trends and describe the psychological effects of working as a Canadian emergency physician during the first weeks of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This was a mixed-methods study. Emergency physicians completed a weekly online survey. The primary outcome was physician burnout as measured by the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization items, from the Maslach Burnout Inventory. We captured data on work patterns, aerosolizing procedures, testing and diagnosis of COVID-19. Each week participants entered free text explaining their experiences and well-being. Results: There were 468 participants who worked in 143 Canadian hospitals. Burnout levels did not significantly change over time (emotional exhaustion P = 0.632, depersonalization P = 0.155). Three participants were diagnosed with COVID-19. Being tested for COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR] 11.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1-42.5) and the number of shifts worked (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.5 per additional shift) were associated with high emotional exhaustion. Having been tested for COVID-19 (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.1-17.8) was also associated with high depersonalization. Personal safety, academic and educational work, personal protective equipment, the workforce, patient volumes, work patterns, and work environment had an impact on physician well-being. A new financial reality and contrasting negative and positive experiences affected participants' psychological health. Conclusion: Emergency physician burnout levels remained stable during the initial 10 weeks of this pandemic. The impact of COVID-19 on the work environment and personal perceptions and fears about the impact on lifestyle have affected physician well-being.

Emergency medicine physician burnout and wellness in Canada before COVID19: A national survey.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency medicine (EM) is a high-risk specialty for burnout. COVID-19 has had and will continue to have important consequences on wellness and burnout for EM physicians in Canada. Baseline data are crucial to monitor the health of EM physicians in Canada, and evaluate any interventions designed to help during and after COVID-19. OBJECTIVES: To describe the rates of burnout, depression, and suicidality in practicing EM physicians in Canada, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A modified snowball method was used for survey distribution. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Health Services Tool (MBI-HSS), a screening measure for depression (PHQ-9), and a question regarding if the physician had ever or in the past 12 months contemplated suicide. RESULTS: A total of 384 respondent surveys were included in the final analysis: 86.1% (329/382) met at least one of the criteria for burnout, 58% (217/374) scored minimal to none on the PHQ-9 screening tool for depression, 14.3% (53/371) had contemplated suicide during their staff career in EM, and of those, 5.9% (22/371) had actively considered suicide in the past year. CONCLUSION: Canadian EM physicians just before the COVID-19 pandemic had an alarming number of respondents meet the threshold for burnout, confirming EM as a high-risk specialty. This important baseline information can be used to monitor the physical and mental risks to EM physicians during and after COVID-19, and evaluate support for mental health and wellness, which is urgently needed now and post pandemic.