Mental Stress in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Physicians During COVID-19 Outbreak

BACKGROUND: Since the announcement of the World Health Organization of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, the probability of experiencing psychological disturbances and mental health problems among the frontline doctors who deal early with the suspected or confirmed patients is expected to increase, especially among anesthesia and ICU physicians. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of mental stress among anesthesia and ICU physicians in Cairo university hospitals, Egypt, treating patients exposed to COVID-19. METHODS: This cross-sectional, survey-based study collected the demographic and mental health data from anesthesia and ICU physicians working in Cairo university hospitals from March 15 to April 15, 2020, in Egypt. The level of stress was assessed by the perceived stress scale (PSS-10). RESULTS: A total of 193 out of 315 contacted physicians completed the survey. A significant proportion of participants (65%) experienced high levels of psychological distress during this acute situation, with the PSS-10 median score of 21 in the registrar group and 18 in the consultant group; the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.03). The most common causes of stress among the participants were the fears that they might transmit the disease to their loved people and the lack of a clear protocol on how to deal with COVID-19 cases, either suspected or confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: In this survey study, anesthesia and ICU physicians responding to the spread of COVID-19 reported high rates of symptoms of mental stress.