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. 2021 Feb;49(1):47-55.
doi: 10.1080/21548331.2020.1832792. Epub 2020 Oct 22.

Psychological wellness of internal medicine hospitalists during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sagar B Dugani  1 , Holly L Geyer  2 , Michael J Maniaci  3 , Karen M Fischer  4 , Ivana T Croghan  5   6   7 , Caroline Burton  1
Affiliations

Psychological wellness of internal medicine hospitalists during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sagar B Dugani et al. Hosp Pract (1995). 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Patients with COVID-19 infection requiring in-hospital care are frequently managed by Internal Medicine hospitalists, comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. There is sparse information on the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Internal Medicine hospitalists.

Methods: We surveyed Internal Medicine hospitalists at Mayo Clinic sites in four states (Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). We collected demographic information, and used Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) measures to assess global well-being, anxiety, social isolation, and emotional support. Descriptive statistics were used to compare responses between two periods: prior to the pandemic (before March 15th, 2020), and during the pandemic (March 15 through 30 April 2020). The survey was conducted from May 4-25, 2020.

Results: Of 295 Internal Medicine hospitalists, 154 (52%) responded. Fifty-six percent were women (n = 85/154) and 54% were physicians (n = 84/154). Most hospitalists (75%; n = 115/154) reported concerns about contracting COVID-19 infection at work, and 5% (n = 8/154) reported changing where they lived during the pandemic. Most hospitalists (73%; n = 112/154) reported relying primarily on institutional resources for COVID-19 information. During the pandemic, the percentage of participants with excellent or very good global well-being decreased (90% prior to pandemic vs. 53% during pandemic), with increases in mean anxiety (-4.88 [95% confidence interval, - 5.61 to - 4.16]; P<.001) and social isolation (-3.91[95% confidence interval, - 4.68 to - 3.13]; P<.001). During the same period, there was a small decrease in mean emotional support (1.46 [95% confidence interval, 0.83 to 2.09]; P<.001).

Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Internal Medicine hospitalists reported lower global well-being, higher anxiety and social isolation, and a small decrease in emotional support. These results provide a framework to develop programs to support hospitalists and potentially mitigate long-term psychological sequelae including burnout.

Keywords: COVID-19 infection; Hospital medicine; anxiety; emotional support; provider burnout; social isolation; well-being.

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