Socio-economic and psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on private practice and public hospital radiologists

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2020.109285Get rights and content

Highlights

  • During the COVID-19 outbreak, many radiologists expressed anxiety, depression and insomnia symptoms.

  • Working in public hospital was a major protective factor for mental issues.

  • Restricted access to education, past medical history and exposition to COVID-19 were common risks factor of anxiety or depression.

Abstract

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an urgent reorganisation of the healthcare system to prevent hospitals from overflowing and the virus from spreading. Our objective was to evaluate the socioeconomic and psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on radiologists.

Material and methods

French radiologists were invited to answer an online survey during the pandemic through mailing lists. The questionnaire was accessible for nine days. It covered socio-demographic information, exposure to COVID-19 at work and impact on work organisation, and included the Insomnia Severity Index and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Outcomes were moderate to severe insomnia, definite symptoms of depression or anxiety. Risk and protective factors were identified through multivariate binary logistic regression.

Results

1515 radiologists answered the survey. Overall, 674 (44.5 %) worked in a highCOVID-19 density area, 671 (44.3 %) were women, and 809 (53.4 %) worked in private practice. Among responders, 186 (12.3 %) expressed insomnia, 222 (14.6 %) anxiety, and 189 (12.5 %) depression symptoms. Lack of protective equipment, increased teleradiology activity and negative impact on education were risk factors for insomnia (respectively OR [95 %CI]:1.7[1.1−2.7], 1.5[1.1−2.2], and 2.5[1.8−3.6]). Female gender, respiratory history, working in COVID-19 high density area, increase of COVID-19 related activity, and impacted education were risk factors for anxiety (OR[95 %CI]:1.7[1.2−2.3], 2[1.1−3.4], 1.5[1.1−2], 1.2[1−1.4], and 2.1[1.5−3]). Conversely, working in a public hospital was a protective factor against insomnia, anxiety, and depression (OR[95 %CI]:0.4[0.2−0.7], 0.6[0.4−0.9], and 0.5[0.3−0.8]).

Conclusions

During COVID-19 pandemic, many radiologists expressed depression, anxiety and insomnia symptoms. Working in a public hospital was a protective factor against every psychological symptom. Socio-economic impact was also major especially in private practice.

Abbreviations

COVID-19
Coronavirus Disease 2019
HADS
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
ISI
Insomnia Severity Index

Keywords

Coronavirus
COVID-19
Radiology
Mental health
Economics

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