The Research of Mental Health Status Among Medical Personnel in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: In China, burnout, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts among medical staff are common and have been associated with high-intensity work, patient complaints, pressure from public opinion, misunderstanding, and long training and working cycles. However, mental health status of medical personnel has not been well described at a national level. To estimate the mental health status of medical staff, focusing on identifying healthcare providers in the high-risk groups, and executing positive psychological intervention, counseling, treatment initiatives, and moreover, carry out crisis interventions in advance.

Methods: This study was using data collected from both the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores, representing the national sample of the medical staff in China, collected from May 2016 to July 2019. The three componentsof mental health, emotional well-being, psychological well-being, and social well-being, were used to evaluate the mental health status of the target population. The survey covered 10 basic information and 40 psychological questions. The main questionnaires were from both the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), as well as gender, age, marital status, education, professional title, salary, job category, and hospital levels, which were made an electronic questionnaire format by questionnaire star. We sent the message to the healthcare workers’ Wechat group. The responses from 4403 medical physicians (included medical students, refresher doctors, training physicians, and doctors), as well as nursing staff, and medical technicians, were utilized.

Findings: The overall pooled prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms among medical personnel in China was 27.8%, and symptoms of anxiety were reported from 22.3% (980 out 4403) physicians. Among these medical staff, the secondary hospital ( P =0.017, P =0.049) and night shift frequency less than 5 days ( P =0.002, P =0.000) and unemotional management-related learning and training ( P =0.000, P =0.000) were significantly associated with SAS and SDS scores. In addition, the study showed that sleep quality (sleep deprivation) were related to gender ( P =0.006) and marital status ( P =0.045), while suicidal ideation were statistically associated with age ( P =0.025), marital status ( P =0.021), occupation ( P =0.028), hospital-level ( P =0.048), professional title ( P =0.037), annual income ( P =0.029), and whether there was emotional management learning ( P =0.001).

Interpretation: In this Chinese national study of medical personnel, the findings indicated that the prevalence of depression and anxiety in hospitals at three levels were high. Further research is needed to better understand and identify the high-risk groups of medical staff under high-stress circumstances and to address these issues properly.

Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800019542

Funding Statement: The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, a component of the National Institutes of Health (5G12MD007592 and 2U54MD00759226).

Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics Approval Statement: The West China Hospital approved this study and waiver of informed consent of the Sichuan University institutional review board.

Keywords: Anxiety and depression, burnout, mental health, suicidal thoughts, Chinese medical personnel, determinate factor