Medical Education Online (Dec 2024)

COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on medical interns’ mental health of public and private hospitals in Guadalajara

  • Francisco José Barbosa-Camacho,
  • Víctor Ulises Rodríguez-Machuca,
  • Juan Carlos Ibarrola-Peña,
  • Jonathan Matías Chejfec-Ciociano,
  • Mario Jesús Guzmán-Ruvalcaba,
  • Jaime Alberto Tavares-Ortega,
  • Gonzalo Delgado-Hernandez,
  • Gabino Cervantes-Guevara,
  • Enrique Cervantes-Pérez,
  • Sol Ramírez-Ochoa,
  • Clotilde Fuentes-Orozco,
  • Alejandro Gonzalez-Ojeda

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2024.2308360
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 1

Abstract

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ABSTRACTIntroduction Burnout syndrome is a global burden characterized by exhaustion, work detachment, and a sense of ineffectiveness. It affects millions of individuals worldwide, with a particularly high prevalence among medical students. Factors such as demanding education, exposure to suffering, and the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to elevated stress levels. Addressing this issue is crucial due to its impact on well-being and health-care quality.Materials and methods This cross-sectional survey study assessed fear of COVID-19 and burnout levels among medical student interns in hospitals in Guadalajara, Jalisco. The study used validated scales and collected data from September 2021 to September 2022. A snowball sampling method was employed and a minimum sample size of 198 participants was calculated.Results This study included 311 medical students (62.1% female and 37.9% male with a mean age of 23.51 ± 2.21 years). The majority were in their second semester of internship (60.5%) and from public hospitals (89.1%). Most students believed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the quality of their internship (82.6%). Female students had higher personal burnout scores, while male students had higher work-related burnout scores. The mean score for fear of COVID-19 was 13.71 ± 6.28, with higher scores among women (p = 0.004) and those from public hospitals (p = 0.009). A positive weak correlation was found between COVID-19 scores and burnout subscales.Conclusion Our study emphasizes the significant impact of various factors on burnout levels among medical students and health-care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prolonged exposure to COVID-19 patients, reduced staffing, and increased workload contributed to burnout, affecting well-being and quality of care. Targeted interventions and resilience-building strategies are needed to mitigate burnout and promote well-being in health-care settings.

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