Psychological Disorders and Quality of Life among Medical Residents before and during the COVID-۱۹ Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Background: The COVID-۱۹ pandemic has become a major threat to the physical and mental health of people and has affected their quality of life (QoL) by causing various psychological problems. The present study aims to review the updated estimates of the prevalence of psychological issues, and QoL status among Iranian medical residents before and during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic and discuss the affecting factors.Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, a search of online databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, CIVILICA, and Google Scholar) was conducted with no time limit up to March ۲۰۲۴. The quality of the information was evaluated using the STROBE tool.Results: Nine related studies were selected. Medical residents demonstrated a high prevalence of severe to extremely severe depression (۲۳%), severe to extremely severe anxiety (۲۴.۹%), and severe to extremely severe stress (۳۳.۸%) during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic. Anxiety symptoms increased from ۸% (pre-COVID-۱۹) to ۲۴.۹%, and depression increased from ۱۹% to ۲۳% during the pandemic period. A statistical relationship was observed between anxiety and gender, the field of the study, the number of patients’ visits, and the city of the study (p<۰.۰۵). Depression symptoms were higher in female residents, singles, obstetrics and gynecology residents, non-native residents, and residents in direct contact with COVID-۱۹ patients (p<۰.۰۵). High rates of stress levels were more in female residents and surgery and anesthesia residents than in non-surgery fields (p<۰.۰۵). Also, female residents had lower QoL (p<۰.۰۵) during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.Conclusion: Based on the results, the medical residents were at high risk of developing anxiety, stress, and depression during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic. The QoL was lower in female residents during COVID-۱۹.

Keywords:

anxiety , COVID-۱۹ , Medical Residents , psychological disorders , Quality of Life