Pandemic-related Organizational Factors Predicting Physician Anxiety and Depression: Cross-sectional Results from the COPING Survey

Physician depression and anxiety increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine what pandemic-related factors might be responsible for this increase, using a cross-sectional survey of Canadian physicians. Risk factors measured included the Pandemic Experiences and Perceptions Scale (PEPS) subscales (impact, adequacy, risk perception and worklife), COVID-19 preparedness, level of contact with COVID-19, and the number of provincial COVID-19 cases. In total, 309 completed the primary outcomes, with 20.1% experiencing symptoms of depression and 43.2% of anxiety. Structural equation modeling analysis demonstrated significant relationships between risk perception and areas of worklife to anxiety and to depression. The effect of worklife quality was partially mediated through reductions in risk perception. Areas of worklife explained 6% of the variance of risk perception. The explanatory variables in the model described 33% of the variability in anxiety and 28% of the variability in depression. Areas of work-life and risk perception were both significant contributors to depression and anxiety among physicians during early stages of the pandemic. To reduce symptoms, the aim of healthcare organizations should be to ensure adequate resources, reduce risk perception, improve communication and education regarding what is known about pandemics or crises.