Impact on mental health of the COVID-19 outbreak among general practitioners during the sanitary lockdown period

• Published in: Irish journal of medical science 2022-02, Vol.191 (1), p.93-96
• Main Authors: Lange, Marie, Joo, Sarah, Couette, Pierre-André, Le Bas, François, Humbert, Xavier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Brief Report; Burnout, Professional - epidemiology; Communicable Disease Control; COVID-19; Disease Outbreaks; Family Medicine; Female; General Practice; General Practitioners; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental Health; Middle Aged; SARS-CoV-2; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0021-1265; 1863-4362
• DOI: 10.1007/s11845-021-02513-6

Background COVID-19 outbreak can impact mental health including health care workers. Aim The aim of this study was to assess the mental health impact of COVID-19 in French General Practitioners (GPs). Methods We carried out a postal-based survey during the first lockdown. Four psychological validated self-report questionnaires were used to assess stress , post-traumatic stress symptoms, burnout and self-efficacy (Perceived Stress scale, Impact of Event Scale-revised, Maslach Burnout Inventory and General Self-Efficacy scale). Results The sample consists of 332 general practitioners (43.50% women, mean age = 50.74 ± 11.91). General practitioners working in high epidemic location represented 27.71% of the sample ( n  = 92). Thirty four GPs reported significant post-traumatic stress symptoms (10.59%). High burnout symptoms were found in 79 (24.46%), 137 (42.41%) and 17 (5.26%) participants. Only General Self-Efficacy scores were significantly different according to epidemic location status with lower scores in GPs working in high epidemic location (33.37 ± 4.64 vs. 32.06 ± 5.43; P  = 0.04). Women reported more stress and burnout symptoms than men ( P  = 0.01). Conclusions This study showed the psychological impact of COVID-19 in GPs during the sanitary lockdown period including burnout and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Up to 42% of GPs reported psychological disturbances. Interventions to promote mental health well-being of healthcare workers need to be developing.