Investigation on the Stress of Chinese Pediatricians Under the Outbreak of COVID-19

Abstract

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a severe threat to international health and the economy. Clinicians, the main staff involved in fighting against the pandemic, are under great pressure. However, relevant mental stress studies are lacking at present. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the mental stress level and its influencing factors among Chinese pediatricians under the outbreak of COVID-19, aiming to provide a certain theoretical basis for relevant psychological intervention among medical staff. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 352 in-service pediatricians were selected from nine hospitals in Jiangsu province, China, in February 2020. The online survey was performed to collect general information. Meanwhile, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale were employed for assessment. Afterward, the stress level and influencing factors among pediatricians were analyzed through descriptive analysis, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean score of PSS-10 showed moderate stress on the whole. Pediatricians from outpatient and emergency departments had significantly higher perceived stress than those from other departments. The perceived stress was significantly associated with age, educational level, professional title, work experience, and physical condition. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that age, professional title, and physical condition had a linear relationship with the individual’s perceived stress. Besides, Pearson correlation analysis indicated that perceived stress was associated with anxiety level and sleep quality. Conclusions: Under the outbreak of COVID-19, pediatricians suffer from relatively high levels of mental stress. The influencing factors include education, age, professional title, work experience, and physical condition. Typically, the anxiety level and sleep quality are correlated with the mental stress among pediatricians.