Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Mar 2022)

Psychological Distress Was Still Serious Among Anesthesiologists Under the Post COVID-19 Era

  • Guo F,
  • Han R,
  • Luo T,
  • Jin S,
  • Yan Y,
  • Wang J,
  • Sun X,
  • Gao C

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 777 – 784

Abstract

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Fei Guo,1,* Ruili Han,1,* Ting Luo,2,* Shengyang Jin,3 Yuting Yan,1 Jun Wang,4 Xude Sun,1 Changjun Gao1 1Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 3Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Anesthesiology, Shaanxi Provincial Armed Police Hospital, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Changjun Gao; Xude Sun, Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, 710038, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13379227869 ; +86-13891905550, Fax +86-029-84777439, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: This study aims to evaluate the psychological status and the attitudes toward the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine among anesthesiologists. We expected to analyze related factors and offer them some strategies to prevent and manage psychological issues under the post COVID-19 era.Methods: Based on the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES), an online survey was designed and conducted among anesthesiologists in Shaanxi, China. Participants were asked to complete a validated questionnaire voluntarily. The following tests were performed: Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Primary Care Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Screen (PC-PTSD), and the attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine.Results: A total of 795 anesthesiologists completed the survey, the majority of them were female, young and middle-aged, well educated, and married. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in this sample were 26.5%, 35.5%, and 19.9%, respectively. Longer daily working time, concomitant basic chronic disease, and COVID-19 exposure were extracted as risk factors for the psychological symptoms, while vaccination, elder age, and married status were negatively associated with them. An unsatisfied vaccination rate (71.9%) which might be linked with inadequate awareness and perception of the COVID-19 vaccine was also detected in this study.Conclusion: Anesthesiologists are still under rising pressure of psychological symptoms in the post COVID-19 era. It is imperative to afford continuous psychological support to them and ensure their mental health and professional performance.Keywords: COVID-19, anesthesiologist, depression, anxiety, stress

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