TY - JOUR
T1 - Mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Zafirovska, Marija
AU - Daniļenko, Jeļena
AU - Zafirovski, Aleksandar
AU - Coteur, Kristien
AU - Lingner, Heidrun
AU - Frigolett, Cristián Andrés
AU - Cojić, Milena
AU - Şahin, Mustafa Kürşat
AU - Busneag, Carmen Iliana
AU - Buono, Nicola
AU - Stepanović, Aleksander
AU - Brütting, Christine
AU - Kirov, Lyubomir Kirilov
AU - Jatić, Zaim
AU - Ramasaco, Liljana
AU - Brovč, Monika
AU - Lazić, Vanja
AU - Abazaj, Erjona
AU - Šukriev, Ljubin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2025 Zafirovska, Danilenko, Zafirovski, Coteur, Lingner, Frigolett, Cojić, Şahin, Busneag, Buono, Stepanović, Brütting, Kirov, Jatić, Ramasaco, Brovč, Lazić, Abazaj and Šukriev.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted general medical practice by altering work structures and increasing teamwork while also adversely affecting the mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists. This study assesses depression, anxiety, and fear levels among general practitioners and family medicine specialists in Europe 2 years after the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset, and it explores influencing factors.Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included participants from 13 European countries. Data was collected from May to August 2022 with an anonymous online survey incorporating validated questionnaires for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation tests, and linear regression. Results: A total of 1,723 participants completed the survey. Findings indicated an overall mild to moderate levels of anxiety (GAD-7: 5.4 ± 4.76) and depression (PHQ-9: 6.33 ± 5.43), and moderate fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19: 12.84 ± 5.29). Key determinants of anxiety, fear, and depression included country, at-risk status, patient non-compliance, and mental health history. Sex influenced anxiety and fear, losing co-workers to COVID-19 influenced anxiety and depression, while losing relatives or friends influenced fear. Conclusion: Two years into the pandemic, European general practitioners and family medicine specialists showed mild to moderate levels of anxiety, depression, and fear. Country, at-risk status, mental health history, and work-related challenges significantly affected mental health. Crucial interventions are needed to support healthcare workers during pandemics, focusing on protective measures, stable work environments, and coping strategies for anxiety and depression.
AB - Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted general medical practice by altering work structures and increasing teamwork while also adversely affecting the mental health of general practitioners and family medicine specialists. This study assesses depression, anxiety, and fear levels among general practitioners and family medicine specialists in Europe 2 years after the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset, and it explores influencing factors.Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included participants from 13 European countries. Data was collected from May to August 2022 with an anonymous online survey incorporating validated questionnaires for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation tests, and linear regression. Results: A total of 1,723 participants completed the survey. Findings indicated an overall mild to moderate levels of anxiety (GAD-7: 5.4 ± 4.76) and depression (PHQ-9: 6.33 ± 5.43), and moderate fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19: 12.84 ± 5.29). Key determinants of anxiety, fear, and depression included country, at-risk status, patient non-compliance, and mental health history. Sex influenced anxiety and fear, losing co-workers to COVID-19 influenced anxiety and depression, while losing relatives or friends influenced fear. Conclusion: Two years into the pandemic, European general practitioners and family medicine specialists showed mild to moderate levels of anxiety, depression, and fear. Country, at-risk status, mental health history, and work-related challenges significantly affected mental health. Crucial interventions are needed to support healthcare workers during pandemics, focusing on protective measures, stable work environments, and coping strategies for anxiety and depression.
KW - anxiety
KW - COVID-19
KW - depression
KW - family practice
KW - fear of COVID-19
KW - general practice
KW - mental health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105001137596&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1464639
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1464639
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105001137596
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 13
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
M1 - 1464639
ER -
