The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on well-being of Italian physicians: a report from the Italian Society of Internal Medicine (SIMI) national survey
Authors: Romiti Giulio Francesco , Bencivenga Leonardo , Villani Rosanna , Cicco Sebastiano , Cimellaro Antonio , Dalbeni Andrea , Talerico Giovanni , Pietrangelo Antonello , Sesti Giorgio , Zaccone Vincenzo ,   on behalf of Giovani Internisti SIMI (GIS), Armentaro Giuseppe , Arnone Maria Immacolata , Barone Milena , Bencivenga Leonardo , Bertolino Lorenzo , Bianco Sara , Binello Nicolò , Brancati Simona , Buzzetti Elena , Capeci William , Cicco Sebastiano , Cordeddu William , Curcio Rosa , Dalbeni Andrea , D’Abbondanza Marco , D’Agnano Salvatore , D’Ardes Damiano , De Feo Martina , Di Marca Salvatore , Donnarumma Emilia , Fei Marco , Filippini Emanuele , Gambino Carmine Gabriele , Lombardi Rosa , Marra Alberto Maria , Mattioli Massimo , Miceli Giuseppe , Noviello Silvia , Olivieri Gaia , Padula Donatella , Parente Roberta , Pes Chiara , Piano Salvatore , Pignataro Francesca Serena , Poma Sonia , Porceddu Enrica , Ricchio Marco , Romiti Giulio Francesco , Sabena Anna , Salice Marco , Salzano Andrea , Sangineto Moris , Savona Ambra , Savrié Caterina , Stabile Mario , Susca Nicola , Talerico Giovanni , Teatini Thomas , Tombolini Elisabetta , Traversa Matteo , Vettore Elia , Vignali Alessandro , Villani Rosanna , Vilardi Luca , Zaccone Vincenzo 
Published: October 2022

Over the past few years, COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a high toll worldwide, with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Healthcare practitioners (HCPs) have been in the frontline since the beginning of the outbreak, and the high level of stress have affected their physical and mental status, as well as their relationships. We aimed at exploring the self-reported changes in comprehensive well-being in a cohort of Italian physicians. An online-based survey was administered to the members of the Italian Society of Internal Medicine (SIMI) between March and June 2021. The survey was based on 32 multiple-choice questions exploring self-reported physical and mental well-being, as well as changes in workloads, work-related feelings and physicians’ relationship with patients, colleagues and families. 228 physicians (mean age: 35.7 ± 9.8 years) participated in the survey; 120 (52.6%) were residents, 196 (86.0%) worked in COVID-19 units and 65 (28.5%) had COVID-19 during the pandemic. A significant proportion of respondents reported to have experience onset or worsening of physical and mental symptoms, with insomnia/sleep disorders (58.3%) and mood swings (47.8%) being the most common, respectively. The burden of physical and mental consequences was broadly higher among residents compared to specialists, with the former reporting more frequently an increase in the number of worked hours (p = 0.020) and being more frequently infected with COVID-19 (35.0% vs. 21.3, p = 0.032). Moreover, familiar and doctor–patient relationships were also considerably affected. Physicians have been suffering a wide spectrum of physical, mental and relational consequences during COVID-19 pandemic, with youngest doctors being more likely to present several physical and mental health symptoms. Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of HCPs, and potential preventive strategies.