Prevalence and Associated Factors of Anxiety and Depression among Medical Interns during the Third Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Oman

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Medical interns were among the frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and represented a special group of key workers. They were both learners and care providers, experiencing great challenges during the pandemic. This study examined the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among Omani medical interns during the COVID-19 pandemic and determined the independent predictors of depression and anxiety among the study sample. Methods: This online cross-sectional study was conducted among a random sample of Omani medical interns from 2020 to 2021, using a self-reported questionnaire that included the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) information related to vaccination status and caring for patients with COVID-19. Results: A total of 193 interns participated in this study (81% females). The median age was 26 years. Female participants scored higher for both anxiety (P = 0.200) and depression scales (P = 0.183). Most of the participants (143, 74.1%) had a negative result following testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome-Associated coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), with significant association with vaccination status (P = 0.004), especially for participants who had taken the first dose (51%). Participants who had the first dose of the vaccine significantly tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (P = 0.053) compared to participants who had not had the vaccine. The GAD-7 and PHQ-9 showed that 150 (79%) and 91 (47%) participants had mild to severe anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has directly contributed to the development of psychologic distress among medical interns, which can lead to adverse outcomes. This study emphasizes the importance of including disaster management and psychologic well-being training program during the internship to help medical interns better cope in crises, such as a pandemic.