Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of health-care workers worldwide. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress in medical interns during the pandemic and examine the factors influencing it.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted using snowball sampling among 764 medical interns across India, who were evaluated using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and semi-structured questionnaires. Univariate analysis was done using Chi-square test, unpaired t-test, and ANOVA, while multivariate analysis was conducted using binary logistic regression.
RESULTS:
57.5% of the interns reported psychological distress, with 39.8% having moderate-to-severe distress. Past consultation with a mental health professional (odds ratio [OR]: 2.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42–3.26) and perceived lack of support from friends (OR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.33–3.99) and faculty (OR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.41–3.28) were the most significant predictors of distress. Fear of COVID-19 was higher in interns who were female, were medically ill, were dissatisfied with the pandemic preparedness at the hospital, and perceived the faculty to be less approachable and supportive. Majority of the interns felt that the pandemic had hampered their learning and were worried about an extension to their internship and their performance in the postgraduate entrance examinations.
CONCLUSIONS:
Psychological distress was highly prevalent among interns, with several workplaces and personal factors affecting the distress levels. Most interns perceived a negative impact of the pandemic on their learning and career. Addressing these issues could help alleviate the distress and bolster the mental health of interns.
Keywords: COVID-19, medical education, mental health, psychological distress
Introduction
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns enforced by most countries have negatively impacted the mental health of the general population world over.[1,2,3,4,5,6] This impact has been more pronounced in health-care workers (HCWs) who have had to bear the brunt of this calamity, with health-care systems across the world caught unprepared to tackle a crisis of this magnitude. The pandemic presented a multitude of challenges to the HCWs such as long working hours, lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), shortage of ventilators and intensive care unit beds to care for the surge of critically ill patients, rapidly changing treatment guidelines, ambiguity regarding effectiveness of drugs, having to stay away from their family and work in high-risk environments, to name a few. Fear of contracting and transmitting the infection to family members has also been reported as a major concern.[7,8] Studies worldwide and in India have reported differing rates of anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia in HCWs, with the prevalence ranging from 11.4% to 71.5%.[9,10,11,12,13] Other symptoms indicative of psychological distress, such as repeated urges to check for information about COVID-19 and to wash hands more than required have also been reported.[3,6] Factors such as support from family members and organizations, presence of clear protocols, and availability of PPE have been found to be protective and associated with lesser distress.[7,8,9,13,14]
Medical interns have not been spared and are having to work on the frontlines alongside other HCWs. Internship is an important phase in a medical student's life, during which they acquire skills under supervision to become capable of functioning independently.[15] In addition to adapting to a new working environment, interns also have the added pressure of preparing for competitive entrance examinations to enter postgraduate specialization courses. Internship is thus an inherently stressful period, and the high rates of depression (34%–73%), anxiety, stress, and substance use reported in interns support this assumption.[16,17,18]
The pandemic is likely to exacerbate stress in interns as they will encounter most of the challenges faced by other HCWs. In addition, disruption of regular outpatient services, suspension of elective surgeries, and limitation of intern-patient interaction to curb the spread of infection during the current pandemic may have a detrimental effect on their clinical training by depriving them of the supervision they need,[19] and hindering skill acquisition, as reported earlier during the SARS outbreak of 2003.[20]
The psychological distress experienced by interns is likely to vary and may be influenced by several factors. In the past, internship-related factors such as longer working hours and perceived medical errors, as well as personal factors such as female gender, history of major depression, and stressful life events have been reported to be associated with higher stress levels in internship.[21] During the current pandemic, additional factors such as working in designated COVID-19 hospitals and high-risk departments, exposure to COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 infection in friends, colleagues, and family, institutional preparedness, and available social support may also determine the level of distress in interns. Examining these factors will help us identify those at risk and address the modifiable aggravating and protective factors. In view of this, the current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress in interns and examine the factors influencing it.
Materials and Methods
Study design and setting
A cross-sectional, online, questionnaire-based survey was conducted in the months of May and June 2020.
Study participants and sampling
The participants in the study were M. B. B. S. interns from medical colleges across India. Snowball sampling was used.
Data collection tool and technique
The questionnaire consisted of the following:
A semi-structured pro forma to collect sociodemographic data and details about internship, risk of exposure, and physical and mental health.
A semi-structured questionnaire enquiring about substance use and repetitive urges to wash hands and check for COVID-19 updates.
A 5-point Likert scale with 12 statements regarding perceived preparedness for the pandemic, perceived support, and impact on learning and career.
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)
It is a 10-item self-administered scale which measures global psychological distress over a 4-week period through questions on anxiety and depression.[22] Frequencies of symptoms are recorded on a 5-point Likert scale. It has shown good internal consistency (Cronbach's α – 0.82) and moderate-to-high correlation with other commonly used mental health screening questionnaires.[23]
Fear of COVID-19 Scale
It is a 7-item scale to assess fear of COVID-19. Levels of agreement to the statements are rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The total score may range from 7 to 35, with a higher score indicating a greater fear of COVID-19.[24]
The questionnaire was designed using Google Forms and was circulated through social media platforms and WhatsApp groups.
Ethical considerations
The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Informed consent was sought, and the participants were asked to verify that they were currently pursuing their internship before they could begin the questionnaire.
Statistical analysis
Data were tabulated and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 25 (SPSS-25), IBM Corporation, Armonk, New York, United States of America. Data screening was done, and duplicate responses were removed. Descriptive analysis was done using mean and standard deviation for continuous variables and frequency and percentage for discrete variables. Univariate analysis to determine the factors associated with the severity of distress was done using Chi-square test, while the comparison of FCV-19S scores between different groups was done using unpaired t-test and ANOVA, with Tukey's B test used for post hoc analysis. Statistical significance was indicated by a P < 0.05. Variables significantly associated with severity of distress on univariate analysis were entered into a binary logistic regression model to predict the risk associated with each of the factors.
Results
Sociodemographic characteristics
816 interns responded to the survey, out of which 52 respondents did not consent to participate in the survey. Thus, a total of 764 interns, from across 19 states and 3 union territories of India, participated in the survey, with most of them working in the state of Karnataka [Figure 1]. Majority of the respondents were female, working in a designated COVID-19 hospital in the government sector and had completed not more than 3 months of internship at the time of the survey [Table 1]. 60.6% of the interns had been predominantly staying in the hostel since the onset of the pandemic.
Figure 1.
Geographic distribution of the interns in the study sample (n = 764)
Table 1.
Sociodemographic, internship, and risk-exposure profile (n=764)
| Variablesz | Mean (SD) [range]/frequency (%) |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | 23.05 (1.16) [21-34] |
| Gender | |
| Male | 299 (39.1) |
| Female | 465 (60.9) |
| Parents working as health-care professionals* | |
| Yes | 146 (19.1) |
| No | 648 (80.9) |
| Type of hospital | |
| Government | 424 (55.5) |
| Private | 340 (44.5) |
| Designated COVID-19 hospital | |
| Yes | 490 (64.1) |
| No | 274 (35.9) |
| Months of internship completed | |
| 3 months or less | 550 (72) |
| >3 months | 214 (28) |
| Main place of residence since the onset of the pandemic | |
| Hostel | 463 (60.6) |
| Home with family | 202 (26.5) |
| PG/with friends and roommates | 72 (9.4) |
| Others (staying alone, hospital and quarantine facilities) | 27 (3.5) |
| Posted in high-risk departments† | |
| Yes | 652 (85.3) |
| No | 112 (14.7) |
| Exposure to a COVID-19 positive case (without adequate personal protective equipment) | |
| Yes | 88 (11.5) |
| No | 676 (88.5) |
| History of quarantine and testing | |
| Not exposed/not quarantined or tested for COVID-19 | 667 (87.3) |
| Quarantined and/or tested for COVID-19 | 97 (12.7) |
| Tested positive for COVID-19 | 3 (0.4) |
| Has anyone close to you contracted COVID-19? | |
| Senior doctors/PG residents | 112 (14.7) |
| Fellow interns | 124 (16.2) |
| Nursing staff | 44 (5.8) |
| Family and friends | 7 (0.9) |
| Others (neighbors, acquaintances) | 5 (0.7) |
| Overall | 190 (24.9) |
| Predominant source of information regarding COVID-19 | |
| Newspapers/TV news channels | 162 (21.2) |
| Social media | 227 (29.7) |
| Scientific literature | 201 (26.3) |
| Senior colleagues/faculty | 170 (22.3) |
| Others (family/friends) | 4 (0.5) |
*Doctors, dentists, AYUSH practitioners, nurses, paramedical staff, †Fever clinics, casualty/emergency department, internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, otorhinolaryngology, pediatrics, intensive care unit, COVID-19 isolation, and quarantine facilities. SD=Standard deviation
Internship/exposure-risk profile
Since the onset of the pandemic, 85.3% of the interns had been posted in a department with a high risk of exposure to COVID-19 [Table 1]. 88 respondents (11.5%) had been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 positive person without adequate PPE. 25% of the interns reported that a person close to them (colleague, friends, and family) had contracted COVID-19.
Physical and mental health profile
14.5% of the interns had a chronic medical condition, with bronchial asthma and thyroid disorders being the most common [Table 2]. 17.4% of the respondents had consulted a mental health professional in the past, predominantly for symptoms suggestive of anxiety and depressive disorders. 17.1% of the interns reported a history of mental health problems in immediate family members.
Table 2.
Physical and mental health profile (n=764)
| Physical and mental health variables | Frequency (%) |
|---|---|
| Presence of medical condition | 111 (14.5) |
| Bronchial asthma | 48 (6.3) |
| Thyroid disorders | 31 (4.1) |
| Hypertension | 8 (1) |
| Diabetes | 6 (0.8) |
| Immunocompromised state/on immunosuppressant medication | 15 (2) |
| Others (Polycystic ovarian disease, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome) | 24 (3.1) |
| Have you ever consulted a mental health professional? | |
| Yes | 133 (17.4) |
| No | 631 (82.6) |
| Past psychiatric diagnoses | |
| Anxiety | 72 (9.4) |
| Depression | 60 (7.9) |
| Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | 9 (1.2) |
| Alcohol and other drug abuse | 7 (0.9) |
| Are you currently on treatment for a mental health problem? | |
| Yes | 24 (3.1) |
| No | 692 (90.6) |
| Prefer not to say | 48 (6.3) |
| Do you have an immediate family member suffering from any kind of mental health problem? | |
| Yes | 131 (17.1) |
| No | 633 (82.9) |
Psychological distress and Fear of COVID-19
The mean total scores of K10 and FCV-19S are shown in Table 3.
Table 3.
Psychological distress, fear of COVID-19, and substance use (n=764)
| Psychological distress, fear of COVID-19 and substance use variables | Mean (SD) [range]/frequency (%) |
|---|---|
| Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) | |
| Total score | 23.02 (9.01) [10-50] |
| No distress (0-19) | 325 (42.5) |
| Mild distress (20-24) | 135 (17.7) |
| Moderate distress (25-29) | 112 (14.7) |
| Severe distress (30 and above) | 192 (25.1) |
| Fear of COVID-19 Scale (total score) | 13.38 (5.96) [7-35] |
| I have been feeling the urge to wash my hands repeatedly/more often than required | |
| Strongly disagree | 63 (8.2) |
| Disagree | 170 (22.3) |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 163 (21.3) |
| Agree | 276 (36.1) |
| Strongly agree | 92 (12) |
| I have been feeling the urge to repeatedly check the news for updates regarding COVID-19 | |
| Strongly disagree | 102 (13.4) |
| Disagree | 182 (28.8) |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 195 (25.5) |
| Agree | 207 (27.1) |
| Strongly agree | 78 (10.2) |
| I have increased the consumption of alcohol during the pandemic | |
| Yes | 31 (4.1) |
| No | 701 (91.7) |
| Maybe/can’t say | 32 (4.2) |
| I have increased the smoking/chewing of tobacco during the pandemic | |
| Yes | 42 (5.5) |
| No | 698 (91.4) |
| Maybe/can’t say | 24 (3.1) |
| I have increased the use of cannabis during the pandemic | |
| Yes | 30 (4) |
| No | 713 (93.3) |
| Maybe/can’t say | 21 (2.7) |
SD=Standard deviation
More than half the interns (57.5%) reported psychological distress with 39.8% having moderate to severe distress. Repeated urges to wash hands and check news for COVID-19 updates were seen in 48.1% and 37.3% of the respondents, respectively. Increased smoking and alcohol use were reported by 5.5% and 4.1%, respectively.
Perceived preparedness and support
Less than half of the respondents felt the orientation and training given to them, and the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place in the hospital were adequate [Figure 2]. 46% felt that the PPE provided was inadequate compared to 35.1% who were satisfied.
Figure 2.
Perceived preparedness for the pandemic
A vast majority of the interns felt that their friends and family continued to provide them the same care and support as before, although 91.3% admitted that their family was concerned about them working in the hospital during the pandemic [Figure 3]. 48% of the respondents considered the senior staff and the faculty to be approachable and supportive.
Figure 3.
Perceived support
Perceived impact on learning
85.9% of the interns felt that the pandemic had hampered their learning process [Figure 4]. 66.4% of the respondents were worried about an extension to their internship and 72% felt that their performance in the postgraduate entrance examinations will be negatively affected due to the pandemic. However, only one-fifth of the interns had changed their choice of postgraduate specialty due to the pandemic and just 24% of the respondents doubted their decision to become a doctor.
Figure 4.
Impact on learning and career
Correlates of psychological distress and fear of COVID-19
Comparison of variables was done between interns having none or mild distress and moderate-to-severe distress [Table 4]. Association of the variables with FCV-19S score was also assessed [Table 5]. Female gender and the presence of a medical condition were associated with greater fear of COVID-19 and more distress. Dissatisfaction with the SOPs and the PPE provided and perceived lack of support from senior staff and faculty were correlated with more psychological distress and fear of COVID-19.
Table 4.
Correlates of psychological distress
| Variables | None to mild distress (K10<25), n (%) | Moderate to severe distress (K10>25), n (%) | χ 2 | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociodemographic characteristics | ||||
| Gender | ||||
| Male | 201 (67.2) | 98 (32.8) | 10.09 | 0.001 |
| Female | 259 (60.2) | 206 (39.8) | ||
| Internship and exposure-risk variables | ||||
| Posted in high-risk departments | ||||
| Yes | 382 (58.6) | 270 (41.4) | 4.88 | 0.027 |
| No | 78 (69.6) | 34 (30.4) | ||
| Exposure to a COVID-19 positive case without adequate PPE | ||||
| Yes | 41 (46.6) | 47 (53.4) | 7.70 | 0.006 |
| No | 419 (62) | 257 (38) | ||
| Physical and mental health profile | ||||
| Presence of medical condition | ||||
| Yes | 51 (45.9) | 60 (54.1) | 11.03 | 0.001 |
| No | 409 (62.6) | 244 (37.4) | ||
| Past history of consultation with a mental health professional | ||||
| Yes | 52 (39.1) | 81 (60.9) | 29.96 | 0.000 |
| No | 408 (64.7) | 223 (35.3) | ||
| Family history of mental health problems | ||||
| Yes | 60 (45.8) | 71 (54.2) | 13.70 | 0.000 |
| No | 400 (63.2) | 233 (36.8) | ||
| Perceived preparedness | ||||
| The SOPs that are in place in the Fever clinics, OPDs and inpatient wards are adequate | ||||
| Disagree | 148 (53) | 131 (47) | 15.48 | 0.000 |
| Neutral | 108 (57.4) | 80 (42.6) | ||
| Agree | 204 (68.7) | 93 (31.3) | ||
| Adequate protective gear is provided while you are posted in an area with a potential risk for COVID-19 infection | ||||
| Disagree | 191 (53.8) | 164 (46.2) | 18.69 | 0.000 |
| Neutral | 80 (56.7) | 61 (43.3) | ||
| Agree | 189 (70.5) | 79 (29.5) | ||
| Perceived support | ||||
| My friends provide the same support and care as they did before the pandemic | ||||
| Disagree | 27 (35.5) | 49 (64.5) | 38.98 | 0.000 |
| Neutral | 44 (44) | 56 (56) | ||
| Agree | 389 (66.2) | 199 (33.8) | ||
| My family provides the same support and care as they did before the pandemic | ||||
| Disagree | 13 (34.2) | 25 (65.8) | 13.03 | 0.001 |
| Neutral | 15 (50) | 15 (50) | ||
| Agree | 432 (62.1) | 264 (37.9) | ||
| When I feel emotionally overwhelmed, I find that my senior staff and faculty are approachable and supportive | ||||
| Disagree | 72 (41.9) | 100 (58.1) | 39.67 | 0.000 |
| Neutral | 130 (58) | 94 (42) | ||
| Agree | 258 (70.1) | 110 (29.9) |
SOP=Standard operating procedures, OPD=Outpatient department, PPE=Personal protective equipment
Table 5.
Correlates of fear of COVID-19
| Variables | Fear of COVID-19 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| Mean (SD) | t/F | P | Posthoc (Tukey B) | |
| Gender | ||||
| Male | 12.76 (5.95) | −2.29 | 0.022 | |
| Female | 13.77 (5.94) | |||
| Presence of medical condition | ||||
| Yes | 14.82 (7.04) | 2.39 | 0.018 | |
| No | 13.13 (5.73) | |||
| Perceived preparedness | ||||
| The orientation/training program provided by the hospital administration regarding the precautions to be taken while on duty is adequate | ||||
| Disagree (I) | 13.94 (6.38) | 3.30 | 0.037 | I>III |
| Neutral (II) | 13.77 (6.57) | |||
| Agree (III) | 12.77 (5.27) | |||
| The SOPs that are in place in the fever clinics, OPDs, and inpatient wards are adequate | ||||
| Disagree (I) | 14.38 (6.65) | 6.67 | 0.001 | I>III |
| Neutral (II) | 13.07 (6.08) | |||
| Agree (III) | 12.63 (5.01) | |||
| Adequate protective gear is provided while you are posted in an area with a potential risk for COVID-19 infection | ||||
| Disagree (I) | 14.04 (6.40) | 4.41 | 0.012 | I>III |
| Neutral (II) | 13.13 (5.88) | |||
| Agree (III) | 12.63 (5.29) | |||
| Perceived support | ||||
| When I feel emotionally overwhelmed, I find that my senior staff and faculty are approachable and supportive | ||||
| Disagree (I) | 14.19 (6.56) | 4.06 | 0.018 | I>III |
| Neutral (II) | 13.76 (6.19) | |||
| Agree (III) | 12.76 (5.46) | |||
SOP=Standard operating procedures, SD=Standard deviation, OPD=Outpatient department
While the FCV-19S scores were higher in interns who were dissatisfied with the orientation and training provided, greater severity of distress was associated with postings in high-risk departments, exposure to COVID-19-positive patients without adequate PPE, past and family history of psychiatric problems, and lack of perceived support from friends and family.
Fear of COVID-19, repeated urge to wash hands and check news for COVID-19 updates and increased alcohol and tobacco use were associated with greater distress [Table 6]. Worries about career and doubting one's decision to become a doctor were also associated with more distress.
Table 6.
Association of psychological distress with fear of COVID-19, substance use, and impact on learning
| Variables | None to mild distress (K10<25), n (%)/mean (SD) | Moderate to severe distress (K10>25), n (%)/mean (SD) | χ2/t | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fear of COVID-19 total score: Mean (SD) | 11.99 (4.85) | 15.48 (6.82) | −7.71 | 0.000 |
| I have been feeling the urge to wash my hands repeatedly/more often than required | ||||
| Disagree | 162 (69.5) | 71 (30.5) | 12.61 | 0.002 |
| Neutral | 95 (58.3) | 68 (41.7) | ||
| Agree | 203 (55.2) | 165 (44.8) | ||
| I have been feeling the urge to repeatedly check the news for updates regarding COVID-19 | ||||
| Disagree | 193 (68) | 91 (32) | 13.95 | 0.001 |
| Neutral | 117 (60) | 78 (40) | ||
| Agree | 150 (52.6) | 135 (47.4) | ||
| I have increased the consumption of alcohol during the pandemic | ||||
| Disagree | 434 (61.9) | 267 (38.1) | 10.67 | 0.005 |
| Neutral | 12 (37.5) | 20 (62.5) | ||
| Agree | 14 (45.2) | 17 (54.8) | ||
| I have increased the smoking/chewing of tobacco during the pandemic | ||||
| Disagree | 433 (62) | 265 (38) | 11.61 | 0.003 |
| Neutral | 11 (45.8) | 13 (54.2) | ||
| Agree | 16 (38.1) | 26 (61.9) | ||
| Impact on learning | ||||
| I feel that the COVID-19 outbreak has negatively affected my learning in terms of clinical exposure and skills acquisition during my internship | ||||
| Disagree | 41 (78.8) | 11 (21.2) | 8.18 | 0.017 |
| Neutral | 34 (60.7) | 22 (39.3) | ||
| Agree | 385 (58.7) | 271 (41.3) | ||
| I am worried about the possibility of an extension of my internship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak | ||||
| Disagree | 106 (79.7) | 27 (20.3) | 25.78 | 0.000 |
| Neutral | 72 (58.1) | 52 (41.9) | ||
| Agree | 282 (55.6) | 225 (44.4) | ||
| I am worried about my performance in the PG entrance exams due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| Disagree | 80 (80.8) | 19 (19.2) | 23.93 | 0.000 |
| Neutral | 75 (65.2) | 40 (34.8) | ||
| Agree | 305 (55.5) | 245 (44.5) | ||
| I have changed my choice of specialty (PG) because of my experience with the pandemic | ||||
| Disagree | 266 (71.3) | 107 (28.7) | 42.39 | 0.000 |
| Neutral | 129 (54) | 110 (46) | ||
| Agree | 65 (42.8) | 87 (57.2) | ||
| I have begun to question my decision to become a doctor as a result of my experience with COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| Disagree | 304 (70.4) | 128 (29.6) | 48.46 | 0.000 |
| Neutral | 81 (54) | 69 (46) | ||
| Agree | 75 (41.2) | 107 (58.8) |
SD=Standard deviation
Multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression was done. The model was statistically significant (χ2( 16) = 121.5, P < 0.001) and explained 20% of the variance in psychological distress, with correct classification of 69% of the cases. The following factors were predictive of greater distress [Table 7]: female gender (odds ratio [OR]: 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–2.07), posting in high-risk departments (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.04–2.67), presence of medical condition (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.12–2.73), history of past psychiatric consultation (OR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.42–3.26), lack of adequate PPE (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.05–2.32), and perceived lack of support from friends (OR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.33–3.99) and faculty (OR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.41–3.28).
Table 7.
Predictors of psychological distress
| Variables | Adjusted OR (95% CI) | P |
|---|---|---|
| Female gender | 1.48 (1.07-2.07) | 0.019 |
| History of postings in high-risk departments | 1.67 (1.04-2.67) | 0.033 |
| Presence of medical condition | 1.74 (1.12-2.73) | 0.015 |
| History of past psychiatric consultation | 2.15 (1.42-3.26) | 0.000 |
| Lack of adequate protective gear | 1.56 (1.05-2.32) | 0.027 |
| Perceived lack of support from friends | 2.30 (1.33-3.99) | 0.003 |
| Perceived lack of support from senior staff and faculty | 2.15 (1.41-3.28) | 0.000 |
OR=Odds ratio, CI=Confidence interval
Discussion
In this study, we attempted to explore the psychological distress and associated factors among interns during the pandemic. Although many studies have examined the psychological impact of the pandemic among the general population and HCWs, a review of literature did not reveal similar studies among interns who are still learning the ropes and yet, in most places, are actively involved in the detection and care of COVID-19 patients.
57.5% of interns reported psychological distress on the K10 scale, with 39.8% having moderate-to-severe distress, which is comparable to prevalence rates of distress in interns reported before the pandemic.[17,18] The current pandemic may further aggravate this stressful milieu, as indicated by higher than average distress levels reported in HCWs during the current as well as past pandemics.[3,12,25]
Moderate-to-severe psychological distress was associated with a greater prevalence of repeated urges to wash hands and check for COVID-19 updates. Increase in substance use during the pandemic was also associated with greater distress. Interestingly, only a small percentage of interns reported increased substance use, possibly due to restricted access due to the lockdown and the fear that substance use may weaken immunity and increase the risk of COVID-19-related complications.
Psychological distress in interns may stem from a combination of various personal and workplace factors and not just from a fear of COVID-19 illness per se. FCV-19S was used to assess the apprehension in interns specifically regarding COVID-19. The mean score on the FCV-19S was relatively low, although scores ranged from the minimum to the possible maximum. Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of symptoms of COVID-19-specific anxiety ranging from around 20% to just above 50% of the general population.[2,6,26] Use of different data collection tools and lack of established cutoffs for FCV-19S make a comparison of findings between the current study and the aforementioned ones difficult. However, it was noted that FCV-19S total score was higher in those with moderate-to-severe distress, like earlier reports.[2,24]
Various factors were associated with greater severity of psychological distress. Female interns expressed more distress and fear of COVID-19 compared to males. Similar gender difference in psychological distress has been noted in interns before the pandemic, and in HCWs during the current pandemic.[10,12,21]
Interns who worked in high-risk departments such as emergency medicine, intensive care unit, and fever clinic since the onset of the pandemic reported more distress, like earlier findings.[10] Curiously, working in these departments was not significantly associated with fear of COVID-19. This indicates that the distress may not be solely due to fear of the illness but also workplace factors such as long working hours and high caseload. In addition, deficiencies in imparting of requisite information and lack of a coherent structure in the hospital to deal with the pandemic have been shown to be likely to increase the psychological distress in HCWs.[7,8] The distress is likely to be more pronounced in interns due to their inexperience and unfamiliarity with the functioning of the hospital and working in a health-care team. The findings of the current study support this assumption, with greater distress and fear of COVID-19 seen in those who were dissatisfied with the SOPs in the high-risk departments and the PPEs provided. Interns dissatisfied with the orientation provided regarding the precautions to be followed at work were also more fearful of COVID-19. Overall, more than a third of the interns were dissatisfied with the SOPs and the orientation provided, while nearly half of the interns felt the PPEs provided were inadequate. Addressing these shortcomings may help alleviate their distress and empower them to work without a constant fear of getting infected.
Comorbid medical illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bronchial asthma, immunocompromised states, and autoimmune conditions requiring use of immunosuppressant medications have been widely reported to increase the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19.[27] In this study, interns suffering from one or more of these conditions reported greater fear of COVID-19 and distress, like earlier findings.[28,29] The greater distress may also be attributable to the stress of living with a chronic illness. Interns with a history of consultation with a mental health professional in the past were twice as likely to report distress. This conforms to the oft-proven and acknowledged fact that a history of mental illness is one of the strongest predictors for the development of psychological symptoms, especially in times of upheaval like the current pandemic.[1,21]
Interns who perceived a lack of support from friends, senior staff, and faculty were more than twice as likely to experience psychological distress, emphasizing the need for adequate social support to ensure mental well-being. FCV-19S score was higher in interns perceiving a lack of approachability and support from the faculty, which highlights the need for both institutional support and personal mentoring. Studies have revealed similar findings with higher levels of social support correlating with greater self-efficacy, better quality of sleep, and less distress, with HCWs working in high-risk areas more likely to rate psychological support as beneficial.[14,30]
Majority of the interns felt that the pandemic had negatively affected their learning of clinical skills, possibly due to prioritization of the management of those affected with COVID-19 with disruptions to the functioning of other departments/specialties. More than two-third of the interns were concerned about a possible delay in the completion of their internship and about their performance in the postgraduate entrance examinations. This may stem from uncertainty regarding when the examinations will be held and whether they will have enough time and energy to prepare while possibly working longer hours during the pandemic. Similar worries were expressed by students and interns during the current and past pandemics.[20,31]
Interns with greater distress reported more worries about the negative impact on clinical skill acquisition, delay in completion of internship, and performance in postgraduate entrance examination. In addition, interns with more distress were more likely to ponder a change in their choice of postgraduate specialty and second-guess their decision to become a doctor due to the pandemic. However, only one-fifth of the interns changed their choice of specialty and less than a quarter regretted choosing to become a doctor. It is heartening to see interns embrace their professional obligation to work in these circumstances and it is vital to nurture their well-being and enthusiasm in these trying times.
This study is the first to explore the difficulties faced by the interns during the current pandemic in India, particularly in terms of its impact on clinical skill learning. Some of the notable strengths of the study are the inclusion of a large sample drawn from across the country and the examination of the role of multiple work-related and personal factors in determining the level of psychological distress endured by interns. The study has its limitations, such as the use of psychological distress as the primary response variable, instead of more commonly used constructs such as anxiety, depression, and stress. This makes a comparison of the findings with those of the past studies difficult although the high correlation of K10 with the scales measuring the other constructs ensures the comparisons are credible. Furthermore, the use of non-probability sampling technique may hinder the representativeness of the sample and lead to sample bias, calling into question the generalizability of the results to the whole intern population in India. Despite this, we believe that this study succeeds in highlighting the experiences of the interns during the pandemic and provides a platform for future research in this population.
Conclusions
Psychological distress was highly prevalent among interns. Majority of the interns expressed worries about the pandemic negatively impacting their learning process and career. Interns reporting a history of past psychiatric consultation and lack of support from friends and senior faculty were more than twice as likely to report significant distress. Female gender, presence of medical condition, working in high-risk departments, and lack of adequate PPE were also associated with greater distress. Addressing some of these factors could help bolster the mental health of the interns and enable them to cope better in these difficult times.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgment
We are thankful to the interns who took time from their busy schedules to participate in this study.
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