Pandemic impact on training and mental health of medical residents: an Italian multicentre prospective study
Authors
Giuseppina Lo Moro, Gianmarco Giacomini, Giacomo Scaioli, Cecilia Acuti Martellucci, Davide Alba, Laura Brunelli, Silvio Brusaferro, Maria Elena Flacco, Walter Mazzucco, Lorenzo Fronticelli Baldelli, Paolo Leombruni, Fabrizio Bert, Roberta Siliquini
Abstract
Objective. To describe the mental health of Italian medical residents during COVID-19 pandemic and explore the impact of personal and work-related changes on their mental health.
Methods. A multicentre prospective study was conducted on a sample of Italian residents across five timepoints (February-October 2021). Mental health outcomes (symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, depression, anxiety, poor sleep quality)
were assessed. Regressions analysed the association between pandemic-related personal and professional changes and the mental health outcomes.
Results. Participants were 451. From February to October 2021, the prevalence of symptoms ranged from 21.6% to 12.7% (PTSD), 29.8% to 16.2% (depression), 36.2% to 28.8% (anxiety), 15.2% to 5.7% (sleep). Several work-related changes were significantly associated with symptoms, e.g. a perceived negative training change was associated with all outcomes; increased working hours with PTSD, depression, and anxiety; reallocation to tasks far from expertise area with PTSD.
Conclusions. Residents reported a relevant frequency of mental issues. Many workrelated changes were associated with poor mental health.
pdf
