Psychological distress among infectious disease physicians during the response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Republic of Koreaopen access
- Authors
- Park, Se Yoon; Kim, Bongyoung; Jung, Dong Sik; Jung, Sook In; Oh, Won Sup; Kim, Shin-Woo; Peck, Kyong Ran; Chang, Hyun-Ha
- Issue Date
- Dec-2020
- Publisher
- BMC
- Keywords
- COVID-19; Infectious diseases medicine; Burnout; Psychological; Psychological distress; South Korea
- Citation
- BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, v.20, no.1, pp.1 - 7
- Indexed
- SCIE
SCOPUS
- Journal Title
- BMC PUBLIC HEALTH
- Volume
- 20
- Number
- 1
- Start Page
- 1
- End Page
- 7
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/hanyang/handle/2021.sw.hanyang/8174
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12889-020-09886-w
- ISSN
- 1471-2458
- Abstract
- Background
This study aimed to investigate psychological distress among infectious disease (ID) physicians during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the Republic of Korea.
Methods
Using an online-based survey link sent via text message and email, we conducted a survey from April 21 to 25, 2020, targeting all ID physicians currently working in ID (n=265). The questionnaire was based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales, and information was collected on factors protecting against psychological distress and difficulties in relation to COVID-19.
Results
Of 265 ID physicians, 115 (43.3%) responded, showing burnout (97, 90.4%), depression (20, 17.4%), anxiety (23, 20.0%), and stress (5, 4.3%). There were no differences in terms of distress between ID physicians who were directly involved in the care of patients with COVID-19 or not. Greater than 50% of physicians valued their work and felt recognized by others, whereas <10% indicated that sufficient human and financial support and private time had been provided during the outbreak. The most challenging issues concerned a lack of attending physicians caring for COVID-19 patients or infection control practitioners, a shortage of personal protective equipment or airborne infection isolation rooms, pressure for research, and lack of guidelines for COVID-19 management.
Conclusions
During the COVID-19 outbreak in the Republic of Korea, most respondents reported psychological distress. Preparing strategies to secure human resources are crucial to prepare effectively for future epidemics and pandemics.
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