J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Aug 22. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14390. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Major epidemic outbreaks create an increased demand for healthcare workers (HCWs) and pose increased health risk and psychological distress to them as well.
AIM: The aim of this cross sectional study was to find out the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among Egyptian dermatologists and their possible predictor factors.
PATIENTS/METHODS: A cross sectional study was designed and data were collected using structured self-administered online depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21).
RESULTS: The depression scale of DASS was 18.98 ± 9.56 among which 38% of dermatologists had either severe or extremely severe depression and 34.2% complained of moderate depression. Meanwhile, the anxiety scale was 12.92 ± 7.75 and 35.4 % of surveyed dermatologists had either severe or extremely severe anxiety. Thirty three percent of dermatologists were normal on stress score. Female dermatologists possessed more significant depression and stress than males (19.70 ± 9.71 vs. 16.62 ± 8.68, p = 0.003; 21.42 ± 9.53 vs. 17.40 ± 8.49, p <0.001 respectively). On the contrary, male dermatologists expressed more anxiety than female dermatologists however this was not statistically significant (13.26 ± 7.99 vs. 12.82 ± 7.69, p = 0.625).
CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the differential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Egyptian dermatologists. Mental health care and support are of extreme importance to physicians mid this pandemic.
PMID:34423565 | DOI:10.1111/jocd.14390
