There was a need for an updated analysis of the surgeon’s experience during the Covid-19 epidemic. For a study, researchers set out to explain how the pandemic’s effects on surgeon stress levels and sources of stress changed over time.
At 6 and 12 months after an initial telephone survey, an electronic survey was given to surgeons at four university institutions. Stress level was the main result, with specific stressors coming in second. Responses from the free text survey were analyzed thematically.
At 6 and 12 months, there were 103 and 53 answers overall, respectively. At 6 months and 12 months, the mean total stress level was 5.35 (SD 1.89) and 4.83 (SD 2.19) respectively. The average number of stressors decreased from 3.77 (SD 2.39) to 2.06 (SD 1.60, P < 0.001), even if the frequency of the stressor “finances” rose (from 27.2% to 34.0%). Similar qualitative themes were found, although, at one year, codes for capacity and budgetary constraints were more prevalent.
Despite the fact that the sources of their stress have shifted, the surgical profession reported high levels of stress. To safeguard surgeons against long-term psychological and financial injury, targeted treatments were essential.
Reference: americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(22)00252-5/fulltext
