Factors Related to Self-Reported Distress Experienced by Physicians During Their First COVID-19 Triage Decisions

Francisca L. Chou; David Abramson; Charles Dimaggio; Christina W. Hoven; Ezra Susser; Howard F. Andrews; Stanford Chihuri; Barbara H. Lang; Megan Ryan; Daniel Herman; Ida Susser; Franco Mascayano; Guohua Li

doi:10.1017/dmp.2021.170

Factors Related to Self-Reported Distress Experienced by Physicians During Their First COVID-19 Triage Decisions

Francisca L. Chou, David Abramson, Charles Dimaggio, Christina W. Hoven, Ezra Susser, Howard F. Andrews, Stanford Chihuri, Barbara H. Lang, Megan Ryan, Daniel Herman, Ida Susser, Franco Mascayano, Guohua Li

Global Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with distress experienced by physicians during their first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) triage decisions.

METHODS: An online survey was administered to physicians licensed in New York State.

RESULTS: Of the 164 physicians studied, 20.7% experienced severe distress during their first COVID-19 triage decisions. The mean distress score was not significantly different between physicians who received just-in-time training and those who did not (6.0 ± 2.7 vs 6.2 ± 2.8; P = 0.550) and between physicians who received clinical guidelines and those who did not (6.0 ± 2.9 vs 6.2 ± 2.7; P = 0.820). Substantially increased odds of severe distress were found in physicians who reported that their first COVID-19 triage decisions were inconsistent with their core values (adjusted odds ratio, 6.33; 95% confidence interval, 2.03-19.76) and who reported having insufficient skills and expertise (adjusted odds ratio 2.99, 95% confidence interval 0.91-9.87).

CONCLUSION: Approximately 1 in 5 physicians in New York experienced severe distress during their first COVID-19 triage decisions. Physicians with insufficient skills and expertise, and core values misaligned to triage decisions are at heightened risk of experiencing severe distress. Just-in-time training and clinical guidelines do not appear to alleviate distress experienced by physicians during their first COVID-19 triage decisions.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	2520-2527
Number of pages	8
Journal	Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
Volume	16
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2021.170
State	Published - Dec 7 2022

Keywords

COVID-19
health-care workforce
stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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10.1017/dmp.2021.170

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Chou, F. L., Abramson, D., Dimaggio, C., Hoven, C. W., Susser, E., Andrews, H. F., Chihuri, S., Lang, B. H., Ryan, M., Herman, D., Susser, I., Mascayano, F., & Li, G. (2022). Factors Related to Self-Reported Distress Experienced by Physicians During Their First COVID-19 Triage Decisions. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 16(6), 2520-2527. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2021.170

Chou, FL, Abramson, D, Dimaggio, C, Hoven, CW, Susser, E, Andrews, HF, Chihuri, S, Lang, BH, Ryan, M, Herman, D, Susser, I, Mascayano, F & Li, G 2022, 'Factors Related to Self-Reported Distress Experienced by Physicians During Their First COVID-19 Triage Decisions', Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, vol. 16, no. 6, pp. 2520-2527. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2021.170

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abstract = "OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with distress experienced by physicians during their first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) triage decisions.METHODS: An online survey was administered to physicians licensed in New York State.RESULTS: Of the 164 physicians studied, 20.7% experienced severe distress during their first COVID-19 triage decisions. The mean distress score was not significantly different between physicians who received just-in-time training and those who did not (6.0 ± 2.7 vs 6.2 ± 2.8; P = 0.550) and between physicians who received clinical guidelines and those who did not (6.0 ± 2.9 vs 6.2 ± 2.7; P = 0.820). Substantially increased odds of severe distress were found in physicians who reported that their first COVID-19 triage decisions were inconsistent with their core values (adjusted odds ratio, 6.33; 95% confidence interval, 2.03-19.76) and who reported having insufficient skills and expertise (adjusted odds ratio 2.99, 95% confidence interval 0.91-9.87).CONCLUSION: Approximately 1 in 5 physicians in New York experienced severe distress during their first COVID-19 triage decisions. Physicians with insufficient skills and expertise, and core values misaligned to triage decisions are at heightened risk of experiencing severe distress. Just-in-time training and clinical guidelines do not appear to alleviate distress experienced by physicians during their first COVID-19 triage decisions.",

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AU - Chou, Francisca L.

AU - Abramson, David

AU - Dimaggio, Charles

AU - Hoven, Christina W.

AU - Susser, Ezra

AU - Andrews, Howard F.

AU - Chihuri, Stanford

AU - Lang, Barbara H.

AU - Ryan, Megan

AU - Herman, Daniel

AU - Susser, Ida

AU - Mascayano, Franco

AU - Li, Guohua

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AB - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with distress experienced by physicians during their first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) triage decisions.METHODS: An online survey was administered to physicians licensed in New York State.RESULTS: Of the 164 physicians studied, 20.7% experienced severe distress during their first COVID-19 triage decisions. The mean distress score was not significantly different between physicians who received just-in-time training and those who did not (6.0 ± 2.7 vs 6.2 ± 2.8; P = 0.550) and between physicians who received clinical guidelines and those who did not (6.0 ± 2.9 vs 6.2 ± 2.7; P = 0.820). Substantially increased odds of severe distress were found in physicians who reported that their first COVID-19 triage decisions were inconsistent with their core values (adjusted odds ratio, 6.33; 95% confidence interval, 2.03-19.76) and who reported having insufficient skills and expertise (adjusted odds ratio 2.99, 95% confidence interval 0.91-9.87).CONCLUSION: Approximately 1 in 5 physicians in New York experienced severe distress during their first COVID-19 triage decisions. Physicians with insufficient skills and expertise, and core values misaligned to triage decisions are at heightened risk of experiencing severe distress. Just-in-time training and clinical guidelines do not appear to alleviate distress experienced by physicians during their first COVID-19 triage decisions.

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Factors Related to Self-Reported Distress Experienced by Physicians During Their First COVID-19 Triage Decisions

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