The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of Indian Medical Professionals & the Relevant Role of Health Communication
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Title:
Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of Indian Medical Professionals & the Relevant Role of Health Communication
Introduction:
The COVID-19 Pandemic has affected the Mental Health of many more than it has infected; Medical healthcare professionals being especially vulnerable.
This study targets medical professionals divided into 3 categories: Senior/ experienced doctors, Junior Residents/ Interns and Paramedical staff
Subjects in each category were asked the same questions relevant to the Pandemic and its effect on their lives.
The Objectives included To identify the population among medical professionals most stressed due to the Covid-19 pandemic; To Identify the reasons of stress; To Analyze the different effects of stress- both personally & professionally; To recommend solutions to reduce the stress levels & to Identify the role of health communication in decreasing stress levels.
Method:
A Sample size of 200 medical professionals across India was chosen;
About one-third of the sample size representing each category.
A survey was conducted over 3 months using a standardized questionnaire.
The results were systematically analyzed.
Results :
About one-third (34.2 %) of the medical professionals perceived increased stressed due to various reasons during the COVID-19 Pandemic; majority being medical Interns.
Health of Family(60%) and Viral Exposure (39%) were perceived as the commonest causes of increased stress
Anxiety(55%) & Sleep disturbances(43%) were the commonest effects on personal health.
The professional lives of 33.5% were negatively affected whereas 13.5% people were dutifully motivated towards their profession.
Adequate PPE supplies were considered the most significant intervention to reduce stress levels by most (81%).
The following measures can help reduce stress levels significantly among medical professionals :
Adequate supply of PPEs, Work division at Hospital duties, Decreasing non emergency patient load, Increasing salaries & A good health communication system
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
© Journal of Asian Medical Students’ Association (JAMSA). Released under a Creative Commons license.
References
Introduction to the Special Issue on Telepsychotherapy in the Age of COVID-19
Jennifer L. Callahan
Recommendations for Policy and Practice of Telepsychotherapy and E-Mental Health in Europe and Beyond
Tom Van Daele, Maria Karekla, Angelos P. Kassianos, Angelo Compare, Lise Haddouk, João Salgado, David D. Ebert, Glauco Trebbi, Sylvie Bernaerts, Eva Van Assche, Nele A. J. De Witte, and On Behalf of the EFPA Project Group on eHealth
How health anxiety influences responses to viral outbreaks like COVID-19: what all decision-makers, health authorities, and health care professionals need to know.
Asmundson G.J.G., Taylor S. J. Anxiety Disord. 2020;71:102211.
The COVID-19 outbreak: crucial role the psychiatrists can play.
Banerjee D. Asian J. Psychiatr. 2020;51