General Practitioners’ Mental Well-Being During Crises: Results of the PRICOV-19 Study Pilot in Serbia

TL;DR

This study found that many Serbian general practitioners experienced poor mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those with lower socioeconomic status and limited time for professional development.

Contribution

The study validated the use of the Mayo Clinic Well-Being Index for assessing GPs' mental health in Serbia and identified key predictors of poor well-being during the pandemic.

Findings

71.3% of GPs had poor mental well-being, with an average MWBI score of 3.3.

Lower socioeconomic status was significantly linked to worse mental well-being (B = −0.893; p = 0.021).

Inadequate time for reviewing guidelines was associated with reduced mental well-being (B = −1.137; p = 0.033).

Abstract

Background/Aims: This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the mental well-being of general practitioners (GPs) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia. These findings are intended to provide valuable insights to primary care stakeholders about the potential need for support interventions. Materials and Methods: In the context of the international cross-sectional survey on primary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic (PRICOV-19), our initial focus was on evaluating the appropriateness of employing the Mayo Clinic Well-Being Index (MWBI) for Serbian GPs. The Spearman test validated the correlation between the GPs’ scores of the MWBI and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS21) in the Serbian context. The univariate and multivariate linear regressions modeled the personal and job-related potential predictors of higher MWBI scores (p < 0.05). Results: A strong, positive, and significant correlation was found between the MWBI score; the total DASS21 score; and the scores for depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001). In this pilot study, 71.3% of the GP respondents had poor mental well-being indicated with MWBI scores ≥ 2 (the mean was 3.3 ± 2.7). The likelihood of experiencing poor mental well-being among the GPs was found to be associated with decreases in their socioeconomic statuses (B = −0.893; p = 0.021). Furthermore, inadequate allocation of time for the review of scientific evidence and guidelines has been correlated with a decline in mental well-being among respondents (B = −1.137; p = 0.033). Conclusions: The MWBI effectively assessed GPs’ mental well-being amidst COVID-19 in Serbia. GPs with low socioeconomic statuses might most benefit from mental well-being support during crises. For better mental well-being, GPs need adequate time in their agendas to assess scientific evidence and adhere to established guidelines.

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