The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Associated Lockdowns on the Mental and Physical Health of Urologists

BM Zeeshan Hameed; Ali Talyshinskii; Nithesh Naik; Sufyan Ibrahim; Bhaskar K Somani; Milap Shah; Anshuman Singh; Mohammad Mirahmadi Eraghi; Dharini Prasad; Mohammed Kamal Filli; Nisha S Tatkar; Piotr Chlosta; Bhavan Prasad Rai

doi:10.57159/gadl.jcmm.2.2.23045

Authors

BM Zeeshan Hameed iTRUE (International Training and Research in Uro-oncology and Endourology) Group, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576104; Department of Urology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India 575002 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2904-351X
Ali Talyshinskii Department of Urology, Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan 020000 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3521-8937
Nithesh Naik Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576104 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0356-7697
Sufyan Ibrahim Neuro-Informatics Laboratory, Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA 55905
Bhaskar K Somani Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, UK SO166YD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6248-6478
Milap Shah Department of Urology, Aarogyam Hospital, Ahmedabad, India 380014
Anshuman Singh Department of Urology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576104
Mohammad Mirahmadi Eraghi School of Medicine, Qeshm International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qeshm, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4799-7229
Dharini Prasad Department of Urology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576104
Mohammed Kamal Filli College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 11533
Nisha S Tatkar Department of PGDM, MET Institute of Management, Mumbai Education Trust, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 400050
Piotr Chlosta Department of Urology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Kraków, Poland 30060 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5919-4060
Bhavan Prasad Rai Department of Urology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK NE77DN https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6323-7246

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57159/gadl.jcmm.2.2.23045

Keywords:

COVID-19, Mental health, Physical health, Lockdown, Urologists

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare professionals world- wide, including urologists. This study sought to evaluate the mental and physical health outcomes among urologists during this period. The study encompassed a sample of 150 urologists of varying ages and genders, using standardized scales to measure men- tal and physical health, activity levels, relationships, work-related stress, and preventive measures. Our findings underscored that urologists of both genders experienced significant psychological distress, with younger urologists (25-45 years) reporting higher levels of depression and anxiety. Doctors with higher hospital visit frequency exhibited more psychiatric morbidity, likely due to the heightened fear of virus exposure and subsequent risk to family members. The lockdown period was also marked by a decline in structured exercise and increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, leading to weight gain among participants. In light of these findings, we advocate for mental health outreach within the urology community, with a focus on younger professionals. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of adequate protective measures in hospitals, promoting healthier lifestyles, and social support systems to bolster mental and physical health in such crises. Future research is recommended to explore the long-term consequences of the pandemic on urologists’ health and to devise effective strategies to mitigate adverse effects.

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