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. 2022 Jul 26:13:846889.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.846889. eCollection 2022.

A Survey on Depressive Symptoms and Its Correlates Amongst Physicians in Bangladesh During the COVID-19 Pandemic

M Tasdik Hasan  1   2   3   4   5 , Afifa Anjum  4 , Md Abdullah Al Jubayer Biswas  6 , Sahadat Hossain  4 , Sayma Islam Alin  4 , Kamrun Nahar Koly  6 , Farhana Safa  7 , Syeda Fatema Alam  8 , Md Abdur Rafi  9 , Vivek Podder  10 , Md Moynul Hossain  11 , Tonima Islam Trisa  6 , Dewan Tasnia Azad  12 , Rhedeya Nury Nodi  1 , Fatema Ashraf  1   8 , S M Quamrul Akther  8 , Helal Uddin Ahmed  13 , Roisin McNaney  2
Affiliations

A Survey on Depressive Symptoms and Its Correlates Amongst Physicians in Bangladesh During the COVID-19 Pandemic

M Tasdik Hasan et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the presence of depressive symptoms and understand the potential factors associated with these symptoms among physicians in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted in between April 21 and May 10, 2020, among physicians living in Bangladesh. Participants completed a series of demographic questions, COVID-19-related questions, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation), test statistics (chi-squared test and logistic regression) were performed to explore the association between physicians' experience of depression symptoms and other study variables. Stepwise binary logistic regression was followed while conducting the multivariable analysis.

Result: A total of 390 physicians completed the survey. Of them, 283 (72.6%) were found to be experiencing depressive symptoms. Predictors which were significantly associated with depressive symptoms were gender (with females more likely to experience depression than males), the presence of sleep disturbance, being highly exposed to media coverage about the pandemic, and fear around (a) COVID-19 infection, (b) being assaulted/humiliated by regulatory forces and (c) by the general public, while traveling to and from the hospital and treating patients during the countrywide lockdown.

Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that there is a high prevalence of depressive symptom among physicians especially among female physicians in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. Immediate, adequate and effective interventions addressing gender specific needs are required amid this ongoing crisis and beyond.

Keywords: Bangladesh; COVID-19; PHQ-9; depression symptoms; physicians.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Depression symptoms severity level during COVID-19 pandemic, measured using PHQ-9, was determined in 390 physicians.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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