Psychological consequences of the Covid-pandemic for ENT physicians in Germany

Healthcare work is associated with a high prevalence of mental illness. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic put individual mental health to the test. To investigate how the well-being, private and professional situation of ENT physicians in Germany changed over the period of the pandemic, this study was designed. An online questionnaire was sent to all German ENT clinics from May to July 2022. This included question items during and after 2 years of the pandemic. In addition to questions about professional and private life, mental health items were assessed using a questionnaire based on "The World Health Organization – Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5)". A total of 123 physicians participated in the survey, 46% of whom were female. The average age was 38.9 years and almost 62% are employed at a university hospital. Of the respondents, nearly 38% are residents, 17% are specialists, and 45% are senior or chief physicians. Before the pandemic, the WHO-5 index was reported to be 74 points on average. After one year of the pandemic, there was a significant change to 65 points. Not only the daily clinical routine was perceived as negatively or strongly negatively influenced by almost 90% of the respondents, 2/3 of the respondents also perceive many aspects of their private life as (strongly) negatively influenced. Although the survey is only an approximation of the actual development of the mental health of otolaryngologists during the covid pandemic due to the retrospective approach, a deterioration of well-being is still evident today. From this, a need for action can be derived, which requires both individual and structural objectives.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023