Socio-Economic and Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Private Practice and Public Hospital Radiologists

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to reorganize urgently the healthcare system to prevent hospitals from overflowing and the virus from spreading. The objective of this study was to evaluate the socioeconomic and psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on French radiologists caused, with a special focus on differences between public and private practice. Methods: French radiologists were invited to answer an online survey during the pandemic through mailing lists of scientific societies or syndicates. The questionnaire was accessible 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 the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Outcomes were moderate to severe insomnia, definite symptoms of depression or anxiety. Risk and protective factors were identified through multivariable binary logistic regression. Findings: Overall, 1515 radiologists answered the survey. A total of 674 (44·5%) worked in a high COVID-19 density area, 671 (44·3%) were women, and 809 (53·4%) worked in private practice. Among responders, 186 (12·3%) expressed moderate to severe insomnia, 222 (14·6%) anxiety symptoms, and 189 (12·5%) depression symptoms. The lack of sufficient protective equipment, increase of teleradiology activity and negative impact on education were risks 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 risks 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]). Respiratory history, COVID-19+ status and impacted education were risks factors for depression (OR[95%CI]:2·7[1·5-4·6], 1·7[1·1-2·6], and 2·8[2-4]). Conversely, working in a public hospital was a protective factor for 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]). Interpretation: During COVID-19 pandemic, French radiologists were mentally and economically impacted. We identified mental health risk factors related to COVID-19 exposure, including personal medical history and access to medical education, whereas public hospital was protective. Funding Statement: This study did not receive funding. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest linked to the submitted work. Laure Fournier declares travel support from Guerbet, speaker fees from Novartis, Bayer, Janssen, Sanofi, Pfizer, GE Healthcare, and research collaboration with Philips, ArianaPharma, Evolucare, Invectys, all outside the submitted work. Cedric Lemogne reports personal fees and non-financial support from Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and Boehringer Ingelheim, outside the submitted work. Ethics Approval Statement: Before the initiation of this study, the approval from the Ethics Committee for Research in Imaging (CERIM) was received. The survey was anonymous, and confidentiality of information was ensured, with no email collected.