Stress and anxiety among medical interns and doctors deputed in COVID duties: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: In addition to the psychological aspects of the outbreak in the society, doctors and medical interns are subjected to additional stress due to direct involvement in the treatment of patients and increased risk of infection, fear of transmission to their closed ones, feeling stigmatized and rejected, and working under extreme pressure. On the flip side, physical and emotional burnout over time is caused by the increasing number of cases and disease-related fatalities, work overload for an extended period of time, and lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Stress and anxiety should also be focused among medical interns and doctors.Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess stress and anxiety among medical interns and doctors posted in COVID-19 duties.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted a sample size of 373 participants comprised of doctors and medical interns posted in COVID duties across India. The samples were drawn using the convenience sampling method. Perceived stress scale-10 and generalized anxiety disorder– 7 scale were the tools used to collect the data for this study.Results: Majority of the sample were under moderate stress (62.47%) and mild anxiety (34.58%). The mean score of stress and anxiety in the study was 21.14 (standard deviation [SD] = 7.452) and 8.44 (SD = 5.550), respectively, and found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: Our study confirms that medical interns and doctors face moderate stress and mild anxiety while attending COVID duties and treating COVID-positive patients. The mental well-being of doctors and medical interns should be protected while fighting with a disaster that has a major impact on society globally.