Influencing factors for mental health of general practitioners in Hebei Province under the outbreak of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

Zhang, Jinjia; Song, Shibin; Zhang, Min; Wang, Rongying

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the mental health status of general practitioners (GPs) in Hebei Province during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, analyse influencing factors, and establish and evaluate the risk prediction model. METHODS: During February 25-29, 2020, a self-designed questionnaire was used to conduct an online survey of GPs in Hebei Province. The survey included a questionnaire on GPs' basic information, a questionnaire on GPs' working hardware and software facilities, and a questionnaire on GPs' mental health condition. A total of 1040 participants returned the completely filled valid questionnaire, and the answers were analyzed using the χ2 test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test and logistic regression with SPSS 20.0 software. Based on the results of binary logistic regression analysis, a risk prediction model was established, and the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the model. RESULTS: The results showed that 44.2% (460/1040) of GPs expressed anxiety after the outbreak. Absence of prescreening clinics, fever clinics or isolated observation rooms in primary medical institutions; persons in the administrative area required to be isolated; low sleep quality of GPs and less than 6 hours of sleep per day of GPs were risk factors affecting the mental health status of GPs. Also, epidemic-related training and adequate protective equipment were the protective factors for the mental health status of GPs. CONCLUSION: The government should strengthen the infrastructure construction of community institutions, equip them with sufficient epidemic protection equipment, ensure the rest time of GPs and strengthen mental health training to ensure the mental and physical health of GPs.