COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Effect on Resident Physicians’ Mental Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Study in Kuwait

Objective: Concerns about COVID-19's long-term consequences on the mental health of frontline health professionals are mounting as the entire world strives anew to contain it. The primary objective of this research is to describe the impact of working during the COVID-19 pandemic on resident physicians' mental health. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional online survey using the Google Forms platform was conducted from May 1 to May 30, 2021, on 311 residents currently enrolled in a residency program at the Kuwait Institutional of Medical Specialization (KIMS). Socio-demographic details of each resident physician were collected and the scores related to depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the previously validated depression anxiety stress scale-21 (DASS-21). Results: Higher stress and depression scores were seen in those who were devoid of the option to work with COVID-19 patients, who reported that working during the pandemic affected their study schedule, and who lost off-service training time. Further, the anxiety scores were significantly higher in females. Conclusion: The impact of the ongoing pandemic on residents’ mental health is grave, necessitating psychological treatment and support. The study discovered various factors linked to depression, anxiety, and stress. As a result, these aspects must be regarded to protect the doctors' mental health.