Magnitude and pattern of anxiety levels with gender wise predilection of coping strategies amid resident doctors of emergency department

Objectives: To screen and assess the severity level of anxiety, its influencing factors along with the gender-wise predilection of coping strategies among resident doctors working in accident and emergency departments.

Methods: A transverse study was conducted amongst 260 resident doctors of accident and emergency department of different teaching hospitals of Karachi from October 2020 until March 2021. A demographic sheet containing questions related to factors, GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) and Brief COPE were used to measure the severity level of anxiety and coping strategies. Data was scored according to the standard scoring procedure for each subscale and for further statistical analysis SPSS Version 21 was used.

Results: Out of all participants, 68.1% were <30 years of age, 63.1% were females while 54.2% were single. The findings of the study showed the prevalence of anxiety within the range of normal (38.1%), mild (35.0%), moderate (16.9%) and severe (10.0%). Gender (p= 0.001), marital status (p= 0.040) and job satisfaction (p= 0.007) among resident doctors were significantly associated with level of anxiety. Deemed to coping strategies, the most frequently were planning (n=145, 90.0%), acceptance (n=141, 87.6%), and religion (n=137, 85.1 %). All coping strategies were mostly opted by females except substance abuse.

Conclusion: More than a half of the resident doctors manifested with mild to severe anxiety disorder, which highlights the need for psychological support programs to minimize anxiety levels and to ensure a healthy environment at workplace for the health practitioners.