The collateral damage of a global crisis: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on thework experience of Gastrointestinal-Liver doctors

ABSTRACT

The collateral damage of a worldwide crisis The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work experiences of gastroenterologists This study investigated the impact of work changes as a result of COVID-19 on the work experiences of 248 gastroenterologists (GEs) working in Dutch hospitals. Specifically, we studied how the work of GEs changed as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, and what effect this has on burnout, engagement, job satisfaction, employability, work ability, physical and psychological health. Participants completed a questionnaire in the run-up to the second COVID-19 wave in October 2020. Results show that the COVID-19 crisis significantly reduced their number of working hours, and a small proportion of GEs worked temporarily in other units to care for COVID-19 patients. At the time of this study, the impact of these changes on the work experiences of GEs appears to be small. Although before the COVID-19 crisis GEs were slightly more positive about their work ability, physical and mental health than during this crisis, the changes in their work as a result of the COVID-19 crisis had no apparent negative effects on other aspects of their work experience. This study underscores the importance of not equating healthcare workers in drawing conclusions about the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Different groups can experience the COVID-19 crisis differently, and variation can also exist within professional groups. Attention for work perceptions remains important because doctors who experienced more stress/work pressure reported less favorable outcomes.