The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgeons' and Surgical Residents' Caseload, Surgical Skills, and Mental Health in Kuwait
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Department of Surgery, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
- Department of Surgery, Mubarak Al Kabeer Hospital, Jabriya, Kuwait.
- Department of Sociology and Social Work, College of Science, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Abstract
Introduction: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in governments implementing new regulations to divert healthcare resources, which in return led to the postponement of elective and semi-elective surgical procedures. Therefore, many surgeons and as well as surgeons in training reported feeling redundant, which eventually resulted in psychological distress. This study aimed to assess the sociodemographic differences in the psychological impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and outline the effect it had on surgical training.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Kuwait. Data were collected by distributing a questionnaire electronically to surgeons and surgeons in training. The survey included questions aimed at assessing both the effect of the pandemic on surgical training and the psychological impact it had on surgeons, assessing the latter using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 screening tool.
Results: The response rate for the study was 52%, with the majority being junior male surgeons. A majority of surgeons in training reported postponement of their scheduled academic teaching sessions (78.9%) and pre-assigned surgical rotations (65.8%). In terms of the psychological impact of the pandemic, a majority of the participants reported an element of depression and stress, 61.2% and 55%, respectively, while approximately half, 48.1%, had symptoms associated with anxiety.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative association with the psychological well-being of a significant proportion of surgeons and associated surgical training programs.
Keywords: COVID-19; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21; Mental health; Surgical education.
Conflict of interest statement
All the authors declare that there was no conflict of interest.
Similar articles
Abati E, Nelva Stellio L, Manini A, Moroni F, Azzalini L, Vilca LM.Ann Med. 2022 Dec;54(1):2326-2339. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2105392.PMID: 36001504 Free PMC article.
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on training and mental health of residents: a cross-sectional study.
Alshdaifat E, Sindiani A, Khasawneh W, Abu-Azzam O, Qarqash A, Abushukair H, Obeidat N.BMC Med Educ. 2021 Apr 13;21(1):208. doi: 10.1186/s12909-021-02655-2.PMID: 33849518 Free PMC article.
COVID-19 Impact on Surgical Resident Education and Coping.
Wise CE, Bereknyei Merrell S, Sasnal M, Forrester JD, Hawn MT, Lau JN, Lin DT, Schmiederer IS, Spain DA, Nassar AK, Knowlton LM.J Surg Res. 2021 Aug;264:534-543. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.01.017. Epub 2021 Feb 11.PMID: 33862581 Free PMC article.
Aziz H, James T, Remulla D, Sher L, Genyk Y, Sullivan ME, Sheikh MR.J Surg Educ. 2021 Mar-Apr;78(2):431-439. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.07.037. Epub 2020 Jul 30.PMID: 32798154 Free PMC article.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Vascular Surgery Trainees in the United States.
Johnson AP, Wohlauer MV, Mouawad NJ, Malgor RD, Coogan SM, Sheahan MG 3rd, Singh N, Cuff RF, Woo K, Coleman DM, Shalhub S.Ann Vasc Surg. 2021 Apr;72:182-190. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2020.09.045. Epub 2020 Nov 3.PMID: 33157252 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Ministry of Health. 2021. [cited 2021 Aug 5]; Available from: https://www.moh.gov.kw/en/Pages/default.aspx.
-
- Dzau VJ, Kirch D, Nasca T. Preventing a parallel pandemic: a national strategy to protect clinicians' well-being. N Engl J Med. 2020;383((6)):513–5. - PubMed
-
- Shanafelt T, Ripp J, Trockel M. Understanding and addressing sources of anxiety among health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA. 2020;323((21)):2133. - PubMed
-
- Greenberg N, Docherty M, Gnanapragasam S, Wessely S. Managing mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during covid-19 pandemic. BMJ. 2020;368:m1211. - PubMed
-
- Lovibond SH, Lovibond PF. Manual for the depression anxiety stress scales. Psychology Foundation of Australia; 1996.
-
- DASS (Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale) Scoring [Internet] Farmer health. 2019. [cited 2021 Jun 8]; Available from: http://www.farmerhealth.org.au/sites/default/files/DASS_21_Scoring_white....
-
- Arthur W, Jr, Bennett W, Jr, Stanush P, McNelly T. Factors that influence skill decay and retention: a quantitative review and analysis. Hum Perform. 1998;11((1)):57–101.
-
- Perez R, Skinner A, Weyhrauch P, Niehaus J, Lathan C, Schwaitzberg S, et al. Prevention of surgical skill decay. Mil Med. 2013;178((10 Suppl)):76–86. - PubMed
-
- Daodu O, Panda N, Lopushinsky S, Varghese TK, Brindle M. COVID-19 − considerations and implications for surgical learners. Ann Surg. 2020;272((1)):e22–3. - PubMed
-
- Hall JC. Imagery practice and the development of surgical skills. Am J Surg. 2002;184((5)):465–70. - PubMed
-
- Jalal SM, Chacko SK, David MS, Khamseen ZM. Stress due to travel ban for pandemic during vacation among expatriates of Saudi Arabia. Int J Nurs. 2021 Jan;9((1)):27.