Psychological Burden of Doctors Aspiring for Postgraduate Training in India

Abstract

Abstract Background: Doctors were under a tremendous amount of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The uncertainty regarding the future is compounded by lack of clarity about the postgraduate (PG) entrance examination. We assessed aspirants of PG National Eligibility cum Entrance Test postgraduate (NEET PG) for psychological burden in domains of depression, anxiety, stress COVID-19-related stress, and attitudes toward situation affecting doctors and explored the association between psychological burden and other variables. Methodology: Google form was used to collect data from aspirants who appeared for NEET PG 2021. The variables included age, gender, career status, marital status, number of attempts, and medical environment-related stress. Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and COVID-19 Student Stress Scale Questionnaire (CSSQ) scales were used to measure psychological burden. Analysis was done using SPSS version 21.0. Results: Of 289 participants, two-thirds had very severe depression and anxiety while two-fifths had very severe stress. Most of them were distressed by NEET examination, the postponed Supreme Court verdict, mental health of PG aspirants, and violence against health-care workers. There is low satisfaction with having chosen the medical profession. The distress from the above medical environment was associated with depression and anxiety. Gender and COVID-19-related stress were associated with severe depression, anxiety, and stress. Multivariate logistic regression showed female gender and CSSQ score were associated with the risk of severe stress and happiness with medical profession was protective. Conclusion: PG aspirants are undergoing severe psychological burden. Prompt action should be taken to address this crisis.