Mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted general medical practice by altering work structures and increasing teamwork while also adversely affecting the mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists. This study assesses depression, anxiety, and fear level...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| author | Marija Zafirovska Marija Zafirovska Jelena Danilenko Jelena Danilenko Aleksandar Zafirovski Aleksandar Zafirovski Aleksandar Zafirovski Kristien Coteur Heidrun Lingner Cristián Andrés Frigolett Milena Cojić Mustafa Kürşat Şahin Carmen Iliana Busneag Carmen Iliana Busneag Carmen Iliana Busneag Nicola Buono Aleksander Stepanović Aleksander Stepanović Christine Brütting Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov Zaim Jatić Zaim Jatić Liljana Ramasaco Monika Brovč Vanja Lazić Vanja Lazić Vanja Lazić Erjona Abazaj Ljubin Šukriev |
| author_facet | Marija Zafirovska Marija Zafirovska Jelena Danilenko Jelena Danilenko Aleksandar Zafirovski Aleksandar Zafirovski Aleksandar Zafirovski Kristien Coteur Heidrun Lingner Cristián Andrés Frigolett Milena Cojić Mustafa Kürşat Şahin Carmen Iliana Busneag Carmen Iliana Busneag Carmen Iliana Busneag Nicola Buono Aleksander Stepanović Aleksander Stepanović Christine Brütting Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov Zaim Jatić Zaim Jatić Liljana Ramasaco Monika Brovč Vanja Lazić Vanja Lazić Vanja Lazić Erjona Abazaj Ljubin Šukriev |
| author_sort | Marija Zafirovska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted general medical practice by altering work structures and increasing teamwork while also adversely affecting the mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists. This study assesses depression, anxiety, and fear levels among general practitioners and family medicine specialists in Europe 2 years after the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset, and it explores influencing factors.MethodsThis observational cross-sectional study included participants from 13 European countries. Data was collected from May to August 2022 with an anonymous online survey incorporating validated questionnaires for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation tests, and linear regression.ResultsA total of 1,723 participants completed the survey. Findings indicated an overall mild to moderate levels of anxiety (GAD-7: 5.4 ± 4.76) and depression (PHQ-9: 6.33 ± 5.43), and moderate fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19: 12.84 ± 5.29). Key determinants of anxiety, fear, and depression included country, at-risk status, patient non-compliance, and mental health history. Sex influenced anxiety and fear, losing co-workers to COVID-19 influenced anxiety and depression, while losing relatives or friends influenced fear.ConclusionTwo years into the pandemic, European general practitioners and family medicine specialists showed mild to moderate levels of anxiety, depression, and fear. Country, at-risk status, mental health history, and work-related challenges significantly affected mental health. Crucial interventions are needed to support healthcare workers during pandemics, focusing on protective measures, stable work environments, and coping strategies for anxiety and depression. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ca47d8eb12b45ea821ae91ac7662970 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ca47d8eb12b45ea821ae91ac76629702025-08-20T02:04:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-03-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14646391464639Mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemicMarija Zafirovska0Marija Zafirovska1Jelena Danilenko2Jelena Danilenko3Aleksandar Zafirovski4Aleksandar Zafirovski5Aleksandar Zafirovski6Kristien Coteur7Heidrun Lingner8Cristián Andrés Frigolett9Milena Cojić10Mustafa Kürşat Şahin11Carmen Iliana Busneag12Carmen Iliana Busneag13Carmen Iliana Busneag14Nicola Buono15Aleksander Stepanović16Aleksander Stepanović17Christine Brütting18Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov19Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov20Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov21Zaim Jatić22Zaim Jatić23Liljana Ramasaco24Monika Brovč25Vanja Lazić26Vanja Lazić27Vanja Lazić28Erjona Abazaj29Ljubin Šukriev30Association of General Practice/Family Medicine of South-East Europe (AGP/FM SEE), Skopje, North MacedoniaFaculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Family Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, LatviaMFD Health Group, Riga, LatviaFaculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaGeneral Hospital Jesenice, Jesenice, SloveniaClinical Institute of Radiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Medical Psychology OE 5430, Center for Public Health and Healthcare, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyLeuven Biostats, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium0Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro1Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Türkiye2Department of Kinetic Therapy and Special Motricity, "Spiru Haret" University, Bucharest, Romania3Medical Department, National Romanian Television, Bucharest, Romania4Individual Medical Office of Family Medicine "Dr. Busneag Carmen", Bucharest, Romania5National Society of Medical Education in General Practice (SNAMID), Caserta, Italy6Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia7Primary Healthcare of Gorenjska, Public Medical Center in Škofja Loka, Škofja Loka, Slovenia8Institute for General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), GermanyAssociation of General Practice/Family Medicine of South-East Europe (AGP/FM SEE), Skopje, North Macedonia9General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sofia University ‘’St. Kliment Ohridski’’, Sofia, Bulgaria0National Association of General Practitioners in Bulgaria, Sofia, Bulgaria1Public Institution Health Centre of Sarajevo Canton, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina2Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina3Nursing Department, Faculty of Technical Medical Sciences, University “Aleksander Xhuvani”, Elbasan, Albania4National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), Ljubljana, Slovenia5Association of Teachers in General Practice/Family Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia6Health Center Zagreb - Centar, Zagreb, Croatia7European General Practice Research Network, Zagreb, Croatia8Department of National Reference Laboratories, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, AlbaniaAssociation of General Practice/Family Medicine of South-East Europe (AGP/FM SEE), Skopje, North MacedoniaIntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted general medical practice by altering work structures and increasing teamwork while also adversely affecting the mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists. This study assesses depression, anxiety, and fear levels among general practitioners and family medicine specialists in Europe 2 years after the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset, and it explores influencing factors.MethodsThis observational cross-sectional study included participants from 13 European countries. Data was collected from May to August 2022 with an anonymous online survey incorporating validated questionnaires for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation tests, and linear regression.ResultsA total of 1,723 participants completed the survey. Findings indicated an overall mild to moderate levels of anxiety (GAD-7: 5.4 ± 4.76) and depression (PHQ-9: 6.33 ± 5.43), and moderate fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19: 12.84 ± 5.29). Key determinants of anxiety, fear, and depression included country, at-risk status, patient non-compliance, and mental health history. Sex influenced anxiety and fear, losing co-workers to COVID-19 influenced anxiety and depression, while losing relatives or friends influenced fear.ConclusionTwo years into the pandemic, European general practitioners and family medicine specialists showed mild to moderate levels of anxiety, depression, and fear. Country, at-risk status, mental health history, and work-related challenges significantly affected mental health. Crucial interventions are needed to support healthcare workers during pandemics, focusing on protective measures, stable work environments, and coping strategies for anxiety and depression.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1464639/fullgeneral practicefamily practicemental healthCOVID-19anxietydepression |
| spellingShingle | Marija Zafirovska Marija Zafirovska Jelena Danilenko Jelena Danilenko Aleksandar Zafirovski Aleksandar Zafirovski Aleksandar Zafirovski Kristien Coteur Heidrun Lingner Cristián Andrés Frigolett Milena Cojić Mustafa Kürşat Şahin Carmen Iliana Busneag Carmen Iliana Busneag Carmen Iliana Busneag Nicola Buono Aleksander Stepanović Aleksander Stepanović Christine Brütting Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov Lyubomir Kirilov Kirov Zaim Jatić Zaim Jatić Liljana Ramasaco Monika Brovč Vanja Lazić Vanja Lazić Vanja Lazić Erjona Abazaj Ljubin Šukriev Mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic Frontiers in Public Health general practice family practice mental health COVID-19 anxiety depression |
| title | Mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists 2 years into the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | general practice family practice mental health COVID-19 anxiety depression |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1464639/full |
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