COVID-19 psychological impact in general practitioners: A longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health
• Occupational Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about the mental well-being of frontline healthcare professionals.
• General Practitioners (GPs) are a key part of the healthcare system and may be particularly vulnerable to psychological distress.
• Understanding the specific mental health impacts on GPs is crucial for developing targeted support strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on French general practitioners (GPs).
• To evaluate changes in stress, burnout, and self-efficacy among GPs during the pandemic.
• To provide longitudinal data on the mental health of GPs in response to COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• A postal-based survey was conducted with GPs in the Normandy region of France.
• Data were collected at baseline and a four-month follow-up.
• Validated self-report questionnaires including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Impact of Event Scale-revised (IES-R), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and General Self-Efficacy scale (GSE) were utilized.

Main Results:

• The study included 351 GPs, with a 51.8% response rate at follow-up.
• Mean Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scores significantly increased during the follow-up period (P<0.01).
• Burnout symptoms, specifically emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, were higher at four months compared to baseline.

Conclusions:

• This is the first longitudinal study demonstrating the psychological impact of COVID-19 on French GPs.
• Burnout symptoms among GPs significantly increased over the four-month study period.
• Continuous monitoring of healthcare workers' mental health is essential, particularly during ongoing waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.