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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgeons’ and Surgical Residents’ Caseload, Surgical Skills, and Mental Health in Kuwait
Author(s) -
Alsafran Salman,
Albloushi Dalia,
Quttaineh Danah,
Alfawaz Abdullah A.,
Alkhamis Ahmed,
Alkhayat Ali,
Alsejari Maha,
Alsabah Salman
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
medical principles and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1423-0151
pISSN - 1011-7571
DOI - 10.1159/000524436
Subject(s) - original paper
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in governments implementing new regulations to divert healthcare resources, which in return led to the postponement of elective and semi-elective surgical procedures. Therefore, many surgeons and as well as surgeons in training reported feeling redundant, which eventually resulted in psychological distress. This study aimed to assess the sociodemographic differences in the psychological impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and outline the effect it had on surgical training. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Kuwait. Data were collected by distributing a questionnaire electronically to surgeons and surgeons in training. The survey included questions aimed at assessing both the effect of the pandemic on surgical training and the psychological impact it had on surgeons, assessing the latter using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 screening tool. Results: The response rate for the study was 52%, with the majority being junior male surgeons. A majority of surgeons in training reported postponement of their scheduled academic teaching sessions (78.9%) and pre-assigned surgical rotations (65.8%). In terms of the psychological impact of the pandemic, a majority of the participants reported an element of depression and stress, 61.2% and 55%, respectively, while approximately half, 48.1%, had symptoms associated with anxiety. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative association with the psychological well-being of a significant proportion of surgeons and associated surgical training programs.

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