Emotional and Financial Stress in Doctors Working in the COVID-19 Crisis

Abstract

Background and Objective:  COVID-19 took the world by a storm and impacted not only the general population but the doctors as well. This study was done in order to determine the financial and economic burden faced by the doctors working in COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. Methods:  This longitudinal study was carried out from May 9th to May 23rd, 2020 in Pakistan. A self-designed validated Questionnaire was distributed to doctors working in different hospitals of Pakistan through online Google form. Questions regarding emotional and financial stress in Pakistani doctors dealing with COVID-19 patients were included. Results:  One hundred and twenty doctors responded to the current study. Majority of them 97 (80.6%) reported stress during duty hours. Stress level was high among 78 (65.3%) doctors to the extent they thought of leaving the job because of risk of getting infected. Less salaries and family pressure were the other demotivating factors. Most of the doctors 71 (59.2%)] were younger than 30 years of age. Eighty-five (71%) doctors reported being pressurized by the families to leave the job. Shortage of protective gears was also the challenge. A total of 65 (54.2%) doctors got their gears from their institutes, 27 (22.2%) bought their own gears, 23 (19.4%) worked without gears, and 5 (4.8%) got gears from non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Conclusion:  Majority of the doctors reported stress during duty hours regardless of level or experience in that job; the contributing factors included risk of getting infected, lesser salaries and family pressure. During COVID-19 pandemic, doctors feel that they are not only emotionally exhausted but also tried to cope financial challenges while endangering themselves to save the lives of patients.