Perceived implications of COVID-19 on physical, mental and social aspects of resident doctors in a tertiary care hospital

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Trivedi, Bansi^{a; *} | Pandya, Shailen^b | Modi, Meet^b | Lalwani, Nisha^c

Affiliations: [a] Community Medicine Department, Government Medical College - Bhavnagar, Bhavnagar, India | [b] Government Medical College - Bhavnagar, Bhavnagar, India | [c] General Medicine Department, Sir T Hospital Bhavnagar, Bhavnagar, India

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Dr. Bansi Trivedi, Community Medicine Department, Government Medical College – Bhavnagar, Bhavnagar, India. E-mails: [email protected] and E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has put health care systems of many countries under major stress. Due to its high transmission capacity, it has spread across the globe at a rampant pace. India is one of the countries which has been severely affected by COVID-19. It has posed onerous tasks in front of doctors. Along with it, it has left physical, social and mental implications on well-being of doctors. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to get an in-depth understanding about the implications of COVID-19 on physical, social and mental aspects of resident doctors in tertiary care hospital. METHOD: We performed a qualitative study which involved in-depth interviews of resident doctors who have worked during the COVID-19 pandemic from general medicine department of tertiary care hospital. Interviews were then manually transcribed and analyzed. RESULT: Data analysis by preparing transcript unveiled that doctors were constantly facing burnout and mental distress along with less social support. Our study also found that there was a shortage of resources and demonstrated poor doctor patient ratio which led to a decrease in efficiency of doctors. Our findings are not only confined to doctors facing burden but has also explored sanguine perceptions of resident doctors. CONCLUSION: While treating COVID-19 patients, resident doctors suffered a great setback. Providing them with mental aid, social support, ample resources and decreasing their work burden is recommended to effectively manage future pandemic.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease, general medicine department, physician burnout, stress, work environment, hospital management

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230138

Journal: Work, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-12, 2023