M. Tasdik Hasan,
Afifa Anjum,
Md Abdullah Al Jubayer Biswas,
Sahadat Hossain,
Sayma Islam Alin,
Kamrun Nahar Koly,
Farhana Safa,
Syeda Fatema Alam,
Md Abdur Rafi,
Vivek Podder,
Md Moynul Hossain,
Tonima Islam Trisa,
Dewan Tasnia Azad,
Rhedeya Nury Nodi,
Fatema Ashraf,
S. M. Quamrul Akther,
Helal Uddin Ahmed &
Roisin McNaney
Abstract
AimThe aim of this study was to determine the presence of depressive symptoms and understand the potential factors associated with these symptoms among physicians in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted in between April 21 and May 10, 2020, among physicians living in Bangladesh. Participants completed a series of demographic questions, COVID-19-related questions, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Descriptive statistics, test statistics were performed to explore the association between physicians’ experience of depression symptoms and other study variables. Stepwise binary logistic regression was followed while conducting the multivariable analysis.ResultA total of 390 physicians completed the survey. Of them, 283 were found to be experiencing depressive symptoms. Predictors which were significantly associated with depressive symptoms were gender, the presence of sleep disturbance, being highly exposed to media coverage about the pandemic, and fear around COVID-19 infection, being assaulted/humiliated by regulatory forces and by the general public, while traveling to and from the hospital and treating patients during the countrywide lockdown.ConclusionThe findings of this study demonstrate that there is a high prevalence of depressive symptom among physicians especially among female physicians in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. Immediate, adequate and effective interventions addressing gender specific needs are required amid this ongoing crisis and beyond.