Psychological distress during the acceleration phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey of doctors practising in emergency medicine, anaesthesia and intensive care medicine in the UK and Ireland

Objective To quantify psychological distress experienced by emergency, anaesthetic and intensive care doctors during the acceleration phase of COVID-19 in UK Ireland. Methods Initial cross-sectional electronic survey distributed first pandemic wave Ireland (UK: 18 March 2020–26 2020 Ireland: 25 2020–2 April 2020). Surveys were via established specialty research networks, within a three-part longitudinal study. Participants working medicine acute hospitals across Primary outcome measures General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Additional questions examined personal professional characteristics, experiences to date, risk self others self-reported perceptions health well-being. Results 5440 responses obtained, 54.3% (n=2955) from emergency 36.9% (n=2005) anaesthetics. All levels doctor seniority represented. For primary GHQ-12 score, 44.2% (n=2405) respondents scored >3, meeting criteria for distress. 57.3% (n=3045) had never previously provided clinical an infectious disease outbreak but over half felt somewhat prepared (48.6%, n=2653) or very (7.6%, n=416) provide patients with COVID-19. However, 81.1% (n=4414) either agreed (31.1%, n=2709) strongly n=1705) that their was at due role. Conclusions Findings indicate pandemic, almost frontline reported as measured GHQ-12. this study should inform strategies optimise preparedness explore modifiable factors associated increased short long term. Trial registration number ISRCTN10666798 .