The following is the summary of “Psychological Health of Surgeons in a Time of COVID-19” published in the January 2023 issue of Surgery by Tan, et al.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the emotional toll that the widespread COVID-19 has taken on the surgical community. A brief overview of the relevant context shows that the COVID-19 epidemic has severely disrupted the worldwide healthcare system. Researchers expected that surgical clinicians deployed to work with COVID-19, those in certain surgical specialties, and those with some experience with a COVID-19 diagnosis or death would be particularly vulnerable to the disease’s psychological effects.
To better understand the mental toll of COVID-19, investigators polled people worldwide over the internet. Scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and the Revised Impact of Event Scale were the key indicators of success. The final tally: 4,283 respondents from 101 different countries. Depression was detected in 32.8%, anxiety in 30.8%, the stress in 25.9%, and post-traumatic stress disorder in 24.0% of those examined. Depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD were all more likely to be screened positively among respondents who knew someone who had died from COVID-19 (OR = 1.3, 1.6, 1.4, 1.7, respectively, all P<0.05).
Screening positive for depression, stress, or PTSD increased for respondents who knew someone with COVID-19 (OR 1.2, 1.2, and 1.3, respectively, all P<0.05). Distress rates were highest in the surgical subspecialties that performed procedures on the head and neck. Deployment for COVID-19-related activities was not linked to higher psychological discomfort. In sum, the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may last long after the virus itself has died out. Long-term mental health care for healthcare workers is crucial, especially for those who have had a close friend or family member diagnosed with or passed away from COVID-19.
