Impact of mobilization of residents in otolaryngology-head–neck surgery in COVID-19 units on mental health status

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology Vol. 280; no. 2; pp. 907 - 911
• Main Authors: Lechien, Jerome R., Chebib, Emilien, Zelenik, Karol, Maniaci, Antonino, Molteni, Gabriele, Maza-Solano, Juan M., Hans, Stéphane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2023; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Anxiety; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression - epidemiology; Head and Neck Surgery; Health Status; Humans; Life Sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology; Otorhinolaryngology; SARS-CoV-2; Short Communication; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Fellow; Sleep; Addiction; Otolaryngology; Alcohol; Depression; Residents; Recruitment
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-022-07617-y

Background To investigate mental health, sleep, and addiction features of young otolaryngologists (YO) according to the mobilization in COVID-19 units at the end of the third European wave of infections. Methods A cross-sectional survey was sent to 220 YO of 6 European University hospitals. The following outcomes were evaluated: postgraduate year; age; management of COVID-19 patients; workload; nights on call; stress; Beck depression inventory; Insomnia severity index; sleep and mental health status evolutions throughout pandemic; consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs before and during pandemic. Results A total of 128 YO completed the evaluations (58.2%). Twenty responders (15.6%) did not manage COVID-19 patients, while 65 (50.8%), 20 (15.6%), and 23 (18%) managed rarely, frequently or daily COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, respectively. The management of COVID-19 patients was associated with increases of workload ( p  = 0.023) and number of nights on-call ( p  < 0.001). At the end of the third wave, the depression rates were 34% ( N  = 31/68) and 57% ( N  = 34/60) in YO who worked less and more than 50 h weekly, respectively. Sleep disturbance concerned 39% ( N  = 26/66) and 55% ( N  = 27/60) of YO who worked less and more than 50 h weekly, respectively. Mobilized YO reported a significant increase of alcohol consumption compared with control group ( p  = 0.002). Tobacco and drugs consumptions did not evolve. The consumption of alcohol was positively correlated with the number of nights on-call ( p  = 0.036) and the total hours of work ( p  = 0.009). Conclusions Young otolaryngologists (YO) mobilized in COVID-19 units reported higher hours worked, nights on call, and alcohol consumption compared with others. Future large cohort-studies are needed to confirm our observations.