ABSTRACT
Background Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent illnesses worldwide. Although depression affects many individuals throughout their lives, physicians are at a heightened risk of developing the disorder due to their high-stress levels and enormous responsibilities. The study aimed to examine the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders among surgical doctors in Makkah city hospitals as well as the risk factors. Methods Analytical cross-sectional research was performed at all public hospitals in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia. The Arabic version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used as the screening tool. Results Of the 153 surgeons, 47.1% were Saudis, 81.7% were men, and 46.7% were residents. A personal history of anxiety or depression was apparent among 11.8% of the surgeons, while 4.6% had a family history of a mental disorder. Based on the HADS questionnaire responses, the prevalence rate of anxiety was 30.7%, and 27.5% of the surgeons had depression. Based on the univariate regression analysis, anxiety was significantly linked with being a participant in the Saudi Board program (p=0.010), working for more than nine hours (p=0.020), and having work-related stress (p=0.011 for moderate stress and p=0.001 for severe stress) as well as related to those who were rarely or never satisfied with their income (p=0.016 and p=0.047, respectively) and who was rarely satisfied with their career (p=0.019). Depression among surgeons was significantly linked with the age of 50 to 59 (p=0.023) as well as related to those who were usually satisfied with their career (p=0.022) and those with moderate work-related stress (p=0.016). Conclusion Psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety are prevalent among surgeons. They should be appropriately evaluated at regular intervals throughout life, especially during residency programs, to ensure physical and mental well-being, appropriate training exposure, and patient safety.
ABSTRACT
Background The COVID-19 pandemic's mandatory quarantine encouraged a sedentary lifestyle, which had detrimental effects on health. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the health effects of the prolonged COVID-19 quarantine. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to assess the effects of physical activity and dietary patterns on weight gain and perceived stress. Results Of the 384 participants, the majority (58.6%) experienced stress, while 22.4% saw a dramatic decline in physical activity and only 19.8% performed regular physical activity. Although 64.1% of the participants reported eating healthily, 40.6% gained weight during the quarantine. Insufficient exercise (OR 1.966, 95% CI: 1.001-3.858) and consuming soft drinks frequently (OR 2.363, 95% CI: 1.137-4.910) were the two most important predictors of weight gain. The likelihood of developing psychological stress was increased by consuming more food (OR 2.592, 95% CI; 1.268-5.298), eating few vegetables (OR 3.154, 95% CI: 1.203-8.269), and insufficient exercising (OR 2.211, 95% CI: 1.063-4.600). Conclusion Long quarantines and physical inactivity raise the risk of weight gain and stress, both of which have detrimental effects on general health.
