PC3048: Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Pediatric Consultants and Residents in a Tertiary Hospital in Metro Manila

Background: The 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged as a devastating pandemic of exceptional magnitude pushing the world into a looming health crisis. It was associated with implementation of lockdown and quarantine measures that led to mental health consequences among people worldwide. People feel fearful and anxious which poses a threat to societies’ mental health. This study examined the psychological impact of COVID-19 among health care workers specifically Pediatric consultants and Residents.

Methods: A total of 104 completed online surveys were gathered from September 25-October 6, 2020. Collected data included socio-demographics, contact and exposure history, presence of co-morbidities and physical symptoms of COVID-19, and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21).

Results: In terms of prevalence, there was significantly higher proportion of residents who had depression and anxiety than consultants with 63.6% and 23.2% respectively for depression, and 59.1% and 34.1% respectively for anxiety, while no noted significant difference of stress among consultants and residents. In terms of variables identified, using
the univariate analysis, the results showed that age, marital status, living with parents, not having relative or
acquaintance who got COVID-19, contact with someone with either confirmed or suspected with COVID-19, and
unknown pre-existing psychiatric illness were all significantly associated with depression (p values 0.05). On the other hand, age and unknown pre-existing psychiatric illness were significantly associated with anxiety with p values < 0.001and 0.05 respectively. Lastly, results showed that only age, not having relative who got COVID-19, unknown pre-existing psychiatric illness, and having experienced symptoms related to COVID-19 were significantly associated with stress using with p values 0.02, 0.03, 0.01 and 0.03 respectively.

Conclusion: Prevalence of depression and anxiety was higher among residents than consultants. Several variables were identified and were related to Depression, Anxiety and Stress. After multivariate analysis using logistic regression, Age (≤50 years old), marital status (single) and having any relative or acquaintance who got COVID-19 were found to be significantly associated with depression. Age (≤50 years old), sex (male) and having experienced symptoms related to COVID-19 were found to be significantly associated with anxiety. Age (≤50 years old), having any relative or acquaintance who got COVID-19, having been exposed in a COVID-19 zone in the hospital and having experienced symptoms related to COVID-19 were found to be significantly associated with stress.