Covid-19 pandemic impact in pediatricians: stress factors and their consequences

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic has had negative psychological consequences on healthcare professionals, however, specific data on pediatricians are scarce. Ob-jective: To evaluate anxiety among pediatricians after the first COVID-19 wave as well as to identify possible related risk factors. Material and Method: A cross-sectional multicentric survey study was designed and sent to Spanish pediatricians through the Asociación Española de Pediatría’s e-mail lists. Demographic, socio-familial, occupational, emotional self-perception, psychosomatic symptoms, smoking, alcohol, and psychotropic drugs use data were collected. The State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI) was included, and its association with qualitative and quantitative variables of the sample was studied. Results: 440 surveys were registered. 42.2% of the participants expressed moderate-intense anxiety symptomatology according to the Anxiety-State scale and 26.9% on the Anxiety-Trait scale. Isolation at home was associated with a higher score on both scales. A change in the work situation of the cohabitant resulted in a higher score on the Anxiety-State scale. 41.1% of the respondents clas-sified the psychological impact suffered as mild, 50% as moderate, and 8.9% as severe. Up to 71.8% of the participants manifested some psychosomatic symptoms, with a linear association between the concurrence of symptoms and higher scores on the two scales. Conclusions: After the first pandemic wave, pediatricians have suffered anxiety, causing physical and emotional discomfort. Personal situations were the main source of concern. Likewise, the presence of several somatic symptoms was associated with higher levels of anxiety.