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Title: Prevalence of fatigue and its association with quality of life among frontline clinicians in ophthalmology and otolaryngology departments during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Jin, Y
Li, Y
Li, XY
Zhao, YJ
Cheung, T 
Ungvari, GS
Li, MC
An, FR
Xiang, YT
Issue Date: Jul-2021
Source: Frontiers in psychiatry, July 2021, v. 12, 678917
Abstract: Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused psychological distress and heavy burden in medical professionals. This study examined the prevalence of fatigue and its association with quality of life (QOL) in clinicians working in ophthalmology and otolaryngology departments during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional national online survey conducted between March 15 and March 20, 2020 in China. The severity of fatigue, depression and QOL were measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively.
Results: In total, 3,912 clinicians completed the survey (2,155 in ophthalmology department, and 1,757 in otolaryngology department); 2,049 [52.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 50.8-53.9%] reported fatigue (NRS score >= 4). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that junior clinicians [Odds ratio (OR) = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.68-1.00, P = 0.045] had lower risk of fatigue; while clinicians working in tertiary hospitals (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.02-1.49, P = 0.029), and the presence of more severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 total score >= 5; OR = 7.40, 95% CI = 6.29-8.70, P < 0.001) were independently associated with higher risk of fatigue. After controlling for covariates, clinicians with fatigue had significantly lower QOL compared with those without [F-(1,F- 3,F- 911) = 283.75, P < 0.001].
Conclusion: Fatigue was common in clinicians working in ophthalmology and otolaryngology departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the negative impact of fatigue on clinicians' QOL, health authorities and policymakers should conduct regular screening for fatigue and develop preventive strategies for frontline clinicians working under excessive stress.
Keywords: COVID-19
Fatigue
Ophthalmology
Otolaryngology
Clinicians
Quality of life
Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
Journal: Frontiers in psychiatry 
EISSN: 1664-0640
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.678917
Rights: Copyright © 2021 Jin, Li, Li, Zhao, Cheung, Ungvari, Li, An and Xiang.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
The following publication Jin Y, Li Y, Li X-Y, Zhao Y-J, Cheung T, Ungvari GS, Li M, An F-R and Xiang Y-T (2021) Prevalence of Fatigue and Its Association With Quality of Life Among Frontline Clinicians in Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology Departments During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front. Psychiatry 12:678917 is available at https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.678917
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