Psychological state of medical staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 affects all aspects of social life, including mental health. Some authors reported an increased risk of suicides. Objective. To assess the psychological state including anxiety, depression, and mental burnout in medical staff who works with new COVID-19 infection. Material and methods. An anonymous research was conducted in Moscow COVID-19 departments in June 2020. The study included 470 respondents who work with COVID-19 infection including 323 physicians and 147 nurses. Physicians included 274 anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists and 49 doctors of other specialties. We have used the following scales Beck Depression Inventory, Maslach Burnout Inventory scale (MBI) for physicians adapted by N.E. Vodopyanova (emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), reduction of professional achievements (PA)), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Hopelessness Inventory for assessment of negative attitude to subjective future. Additional questions subjective assessment of fatigue throughout a week, subjective assessment of efficiency, somatic complaints over the past month. R-Studio software (Version 1.0.153 2009-2017) was used for statistical analysis. Results. Depression was observed in 67.8% of physicians and 59.18% of nurses, negative attitude to subjective future — in 67.8% of physicians and 37.41% of nurses. According to MBI data, high EE score was noted in 59.13% of physicians, DP score — in 21.67%, PA score — in 43.03% of doctors. High burnout scores in all three sub-scales were observed in 18.89% of physicians and 8.16% of nurses. Conclusion. Analysis of psychological state and regular psychological testing are essential in COVID-19 departments. This step will be first one towards reducing the negative impact of depression, anxiety, burnout on mental health. © E.V. SINBUKHOVA, D.N. PROTSENKO.