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. 2021 Feb 1;63(2):89-97.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002086.

Association Between Proportion of Workday Treating COVID-19 and Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD Outcomes in US Physicians

Danielle M Gainer  1 , Ramzi W Nahhas, Nita V Bhatt, Autumnn Merrill, Julie McCormack
Affiliations

Association Between Proportion of Workday Treating COVID-19 and Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD Outcomes in US Physicians

Danielle M Gainer et al. J Occup Environ Med. .

Abstract

Objective: The primary objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between time spent treating patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and levels of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in US physicians.

Methods: The authors conducted an anonymous online survey of US physicians. Linear regression was used to test the association between proportion of day treating COVID-19 and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Results: In a sample of 1724 US physicians, proportion of day treating COVID-19 was positively and significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores (P < 0.001 for each).

Conclusions: Mental health resources should be provided to physicians who treat COVID-19 because the proportion of day treating COVID-19 is associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Gainer, Nahhas, Bhatt, Merrill, and McCormack have no relationships/conditions/circumstances that present potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Estimated PHQ-9, GAD-7, and APCL total scores (and 95% confidence interval) versus % of day treating COVID-19 at the most common level of other covariates (vertical range is the minimum to half the maximum value of each outcome). PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Trainee interaction: estimated PHQ-9, GAD-7, and APCL total scores versus proportion of day treating COVID-19, by trainee, at the most common level of other covariates. PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Specialty interaction: estimated PHQ-9, GAD-7, and APCL total scores versus proportion of day treating COVID-19, by specialty, at the most common level of other covariates. PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Estimated PHQ-9, GAD-7, and APCL total scores versus % of day treating COVID-19, by gender, at the most common level of other covariates. PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Estimated PHQ-9, GAD-7, and APCL total scores by specialty, at the most common level of other covariates, ordered by average ranking across all three outcomes. PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
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