JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on the world, and doctors played a crucial role in providing healthcare while facing the risk of contracting the virus themselves. While working on the frontlines, they also needed to protect themselves and their families from the virus. Unfortunately, their mental health was not given the attention it deserved. Many doctors experienced burnout due to the numerous challenges they faced, yet they received little support. Developing countries such as Bangladesh were particularly affected due to a lack of resources. Although developed countries have proposed a well-being model for doctors, this model is not directly applicable to developing nations. However, redefining the model to suit the specific needs of doctors in developing countries could provide sustainable support for their well-being.

Objective:

Our aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the mental and physical burdens faced by Bangladeshi doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the contextual factors influencing their well-being. By understanding these aspects, we can recommend an adaptable, effective, and sustainable contextual model.

Methods:

We conducted semi-structured online interviews with 14 doctors in Chattogram, Bangladesh, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The doctors were purposefully recruited from public and private hospitals to explore the similarities and differences in their experiences. Participants were between 25 - 35 years old and had up to eight years of working experience, including six interns, five medical officers, two researchers, and one surgeon. Each interview was conducted in Bengali, and we obtained consent to record the audio. A total of 637 minutes of discussion were translated and transcribed. The results were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results:

We identified factors that impacted doctors' mental and physical health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. They frequently dealt with undiagnosed patients, which put them at risk. Doctors often feared the potential danger their profession posed to their families, choosing to prioritize their family's safety over their own. Unfortunately, many of them lacked adequate support from. Heavy workloads, excessive duty hours, and a shortage of colleagues significantly affected their sleep patterns and disrupted their regular work schedules. Instead of receiving societal support, they often faced negative perceptions from the public. Additionally, during times of mass patient deaths, many doctors struggled to cope with their emotions without any mental health support.

Conclusions:

Our work shows doctors' mental and physical health burdens with various contextual difficulties. We understood these concerns and suggested a contextual intervention model inspired by Daniels' well-being framework. We emphasize the importance of integrating both contextual and technological interventions. Through this model, our goal is to involve stakeholders in redesigning the work environment for doctors, ensuring it is sustainable in the long term and adaptable to different situations.