Recording and Evaluating Affect and Coping During COVID19 in Healthcare-Workers and Outcomes (REACCH-Out): Mental Health Implications for Our Junior Doctor Cohort

ABSTRACT

The announcement of the COVID19 pandemic has had a huge impact on surgical practice in the UK. Many surgical trainees were redeployed to areas within the hospital to provide additional cover during the pandemic. Providing adequate wellbeing and support to trainees is imperative during this time of hardship. 18 plastic surgery junior doctors were redeployed to either intensive care units, emergency departments or medical wards during the period of study. A mixed methods survey was completed by trainees exploring rates of anxiety, depression and coping during the first peak of the pandemic. A COVID care package was provided to support surgical junior doctors. The average anxiety score for trainees exceeded that regarded as 'normal' as predicted by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. SHOs were found to show higher scores of anxieties and depression throughout the course of study as compared to their registrar counterparts. 43.8% of junior doctors reported greater levels of stress since the announcement of the pandemic. 81% of junior doctors preferred to have regular check-ins with work colleagues during difficult times. Providing a strong support system for trainees is vital to ensure doctors are not overwhelmed at this volatile time in their careers. The use of psychological monitoring tools to guide the implementation of appropriate levels of support for individuals could aid in enhanced junior doctor wellbeing and support. Feedback suggests that surgical trainees agree that contact with their parent team and colleagues has a positive impact on their wellbeing and prefer these regular check-ins to occur on a monthly basis.