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).