Results:
Two-hundred and seven doctors completed the survey (81.1% female; 18.9% male). Age distribution was as follows: 44.9% (n = 93) aged 20-34 years, 44.9% (n = 93) aged 35-49 years, 10.1% (n=21) were aged 50-69 years. Regarding the clinical-grade, 28% (n=58) of respondents were Consultants, 47.8% (n=99) were Specialty Registrars and 24.2% (n=50) were Senior House Officers. Demographics of respondents is demonstrated in Table 1.
Of the respondents, 22.2% (n=46) of respondents stated that they had previously received treatment for a mental health condition. 15.94% (n=33) of respondents had a PHQ-2 score of 3 or more, suggestive of major depressive disorder (MDD) while 24.64% (n=51) of respondents had a GAD-2 score of 3 or more suggestive of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
The rates of both Major Depressive Disorder (15.94% versus 3.3%, p=0.023) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (24.64% versus 5.9%, p=0.044) were significantly higher in Obstetrics and Gynaecology doctors as compared to UK-wide population estimates11Stansfeld, S., Clark, C., Bebbington, P., King, M., Jenkins, R., & Hinchliffe, S. (2016). Chapter 2: Common mental disorders. In S. McManus, P. Bebbington, R. Jenkins, & T. Brugha (Eds.), Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. Leeds: NHS Digital.. Anxiety was more prevalent amongst female doctors as compared to males (prevalence 27.5% versus 12.50%, p=0.047). Although registrars seem to have a higher rate of Generalised Anxiety Disorder compared to their Consultant and/or Senior House Officer counterparts, this was not statistically significant (Figure 1). There was no statistically significant difference in the likelihood of MDD or GAD depending on if respondents had a previous history of mental health disorders requiring treatment (prevalence 22.36% versus 32.61%, p=0.176).
Respondents felt that the most significant causative factors for work-related changes to mental health was keeping up to date with frequently changing guidelines, pathways and protocols related to COVID-19 practice in O&G. 84.06% of respondents stated that this factor had caused at least a moderate effect on their mental health, with 62.32% of respondents stating the effect was high or very high.
The multiple binary logistic regression showed that there was a positive correlation between the extent respondents felt that the rapidly evolving environment had an impact on their mental health and a PHQ-2 score suggestive of a major depressive disorder (OR=1.825; CI: 1.241, 2.987; p=0.003). There was also a positive correlation between the extent respondents were concerned about contracting COVID-19 from the workplace environment and a GAD-2 score suggestive of generalised anxiety disorder (OR=1.671; CI: 1.058, 2.640; p=0.028). Assessed on a Likert scale, 16.91% of respondents agreed that their current mental health status negatively affected their workplace behaviour. 11.59% of respondents agreed to have considered taking time off work during the COVID-19 pandemic due to their mental state. 56.52% of respondents agreed that they were well-supported in their workplace environment. 59.42% agreed that they were aware of wellbeing services available locally and nationally for healthcare staff. Only 38.65% agreed that they felt able to talk to their colleagues about their mental health.
Table 2 summarises the proportion of respondents with scores suggestive of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Table 3 summarises sub-group analyses for Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Table 4 summarises sub-group analyses for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).