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Evaluating the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the physical and mental well‐being of obstetricians and gynecologists in Turkey
Author(s) -
Yalçın Bahat Pınar,
Aldıkaçtıoğlu Talmaç Merve,
Bestel Ayşegül,
Topbas Selcuki Nura F.,
Karadeniz Ozan,
Polat Ibrahim
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.13287
Subject(s) - medicine , covid-19 , pandemic , coronavirus infections , virology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , outbreak , disease
Objective To apply online surveying to assess the general physical and mental well‐being of obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) working in COVID‐19 designated hospitals in Turkey. Methods A prospective survey‐based study using an online survey platform. Three hundred participants working at COVID‐19 designated hospitals in Turkey identified from a hospital database were sent a link to the survey by email between April 29 and May 20, 2020. Results A total of 253 OB/GYNs (31 consultants and 222 residents) completed the survey, for a response rate of 84.3%. Of respondents, 191 (76.4%) were anxious about coming into contact with pregnant women infected with COVID‐19. 74.4% stated that they were afraid of getting sick. 64.8% reported that they had fallen into despair at times because of the pandemic. 66.5% stated that their family lives were affected. 72.4% started living separately from their families because of the pandemic. Conclusion Despite the difficulties in patient care during the pandemic, OB/GYNs continued providing for their patients, which reflected positively on their perceptions of the profession. The importance of trust in the national healthcare system, presence of adequate PPE, finding a suitable coping mechanism, and family support were essential for Turkish OB/GYNs during the COVID‐19 pandemic. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04327531. Turkish obstetricians/gynecologists reported anxiety and stress caused by the current situation and future implications of the COVID‐19 pandemic.