Takeshi Umazume1, Etsuko Miyagi2, Yasuo Haruyama3, Soichiro Obata4, Gen Kobashi3, Kentaro Kurasawa2, Yukio Suzuki2, Tomoaki Ikeda5, Tadashi Kimura6, Hideto Yamada7. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. 3. Department of Public Health, Dokkyo Medical University, School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan. 4. Perinatal Center for Maternity and Neonates, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan. 5. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan. 6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. 7. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to clarify the physical and mental burden of the COIVD-19 pandemic on obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan and to identify factors that increase the burden of their psychological stress. METHODS: A web-based questionnaire was sent to obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan via email and social media to collect voluntary responses. This survey was conducted from September 1 to 30, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 852 valid responses were included in the analysis; 76% (644) of the physicians felt that the COVID-19 pandemic caused them physical and mental stress equal to or greater than the most severe disaster they had ever experienced. Physicians who reported high mental and physical stress were more likely to be in areas with high numbers of infected patients (odds ratio (OR) 1.571, p = 0.012). Physicians experienced great stress to the point of wearing heavy personal protective equipment during routine vaginal deliveries by mothers with no COVID-19 symptoms. This trend was markedly pronounced for physicians working in regions with fewer cases of COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetricians and gynecologists who reported high mental and physical stress were more likely to be in areas with high numbers of infected patients. One potential reason for this may be that they were required to wear more personal protective equipment than necessary. Infection control methods that ensure the safety of obstetricians and gynecologists while not causing unnecessary physical or psychological stress are needed.
AIM: The aim of this study was to clarify the physical and mental burden of the COIVD-19 pandemic on obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan and to identify factors that increase the burden of their psychological stress. METHODS: A web-based questionnaire was sent to obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan via email and social media to collect voluntary responses. This survey was conducted from September 1 to 30, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 852 valid responses were included in the analysis; 76% (644) of the physicians felt that the COVID-19 pandemic caused them physical and mental stress equal to or greater than the most severe disaster they had ever experienced. Physicians who reported high mental and physical stress were more likely to be in areas with high numbers of infectedpatients (odds ratio (OR) 1.571, p = 0.012). Physicians experienced great stress to the point of wearing heavy personal protective equipment during routine vaginal deliveries by mothers with no COVID-19 symptoms. This trend was markedly pronounced for physicians working in regions with fewer cases of COVID-19infection. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetricians and gynecologists who reported high mental and physical stress were more likely to be in areas with high numbers of infectedpatients. One potential reason for this may be that they were required to wear more personal protective equipment than necessary. Infection control methods that ensure the safety of obstetricians and gynecologists while not causing unnecessary physical or psychological stress are needed.