The burnout rate among physicians is expected to be higher during COVID-19 period due to the additional sources of physical and emotional stressors. Throughout the current COVID-19 pandemic, numerous studies have evaluated the impacts of COVID-19 on physicians’ burnout, but the reported results have been inconsistent. This current systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess and estimate the epidemiology of burnout and the associated risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic among physicians. A systematic search for studies targeting physicians’ burnout was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Cochrane COVID-19 registry, and pre-print services (PsyArXiv and medRχiv) for English language studies published within the time period of 1 January 2020 to 1 September 2021. Search strategies resulted in 446 possible eligible studies. The titles and abstracts of these studies were screened, which resulted in 34 probable studies for inclusion, while 412 studies were excluded based on the predetermined inclusion criteria. These 34 studies went through a full-text screening for eligibility, which resulted in 30 studies being included in the final reviews and subsequent analyses. Among them, the prevalence of physicians’ burnout rate ranged from 6.0–99.8%. This wide variation could be due to the heterogeneity among burnout definitions, different applied assessment tools, and even cultural factors. Further studies may consider other factors when assessing burnout (e.g., the presence of a psychiatric disorders, other work-related and cultural factors). In conclusion, a consistent diagnostic indices for the assessment of burnout is required to enable consistent methods of scoring and interpretation.

The consequences of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare systems worldwide are undeniably disrupting regularly provided care for non-COVID-19 patients. Since the start of the pandemic, medical services in Saudi Arabia have adapted to the situation by providing medical care through virtual clinics. This article aims to evaluate patient satisfaction with virtual clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who had experience with the virtual clinics of Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was sent to all participants who visited the virtual clinic between May 2020 and July 2020. The questionnaire included demographic data and 16 statements to assess patient satisfaction with the virtual clinic experience. A total of 123 participants completed the questionnaire. Their mean age was 33 ± 12 years; 61% were females and 39% were males. Most of the participants were from the Qassim region (77.2%), while 22.8% were from other regions in Saudi Arabia. Dermatology clinics were the most frequently visited virtual clinics, followed by psychiatry clinics. Most of the participants were satisfied with the virtual clinics, with average scores greater than three for most of the components of the questionnaire. The participants showed considerable satisfaction for virtual clinics in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the service was relatively new to them. Future additional efforts will be needed to support clinically appropriate and acceptable virtual visits combined with in-person visits after the pandemic.

Background and objective: There has been increasing concern globally about the rise in workplace violence (WPV), which is considered a persistent problem generally overlooked by the public and professional organizations. WPV is a significant challenge faced by psychiatrists internationally, yet little is known about WPV among psychiatrists in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of WPV against psychiatrists in Saudi Arabia and identify the types and sources of violence experienced as well as the associated risk factors that contribute to WPV. Results: Among 239 psychiatrists, the prevalence of WPV in Saudi Arabia was 56.3%. The prevalence was particularly high among those working in the central region (55.4%) and in Ministry of Health hospitals, Violent behavior was exhibited mostly by patients 133 (99.3%), and the most common type of violence was verbal abuse 75 (56.0%). Respondents reported that patients’ health conditions, denial of admission to the hospital, and staff shortages were the most common triggers for violence. More than two-thirds of the psychiatrists (74.6%) did not require medical intervention after incidents of violence. The majority of psychiatrists felt either stressed (39%) or angry (22.0%) after such incidents. Reasons for not reporting violent events included feeling that violence is part of the job (76.9%) and being unaware of the violence reporting system (50.8%). Conclusion: This study underscores the significant prevalence of WPV among Saudi Arabian psychiatrists, especially in the central region and in Ministry of Health hospitals, notably in emergency rooms. Perpetrators are primarily psychiatric patients and their relatives. The issue is compounded by staffing shortages. WPV poses physical risks and causes psychological stress, negatively impacting productivity. Underreporting persists due to a lack of awareness or violence being perceived as part of the job. Addressing these challenges through raising awareness, providing support mechanisms, and enforcing regulations is essential to bolster workplace safety and patient care for psychiatrists.

Background: Depression is a major global public health issue. There is little available data regarding the association between the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and depression. The current study aimed to investigate the association between PPIs and depression among adults in Central Sudan. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to examine adults in Central Sudan. Sociodemographic data and medical history were collected. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Multivariate binary regression analyses, modified Poisson regression analyses, and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed. Results: We enrolled 914 adults (317 [34.7%] men and 597 [65.3%] women). Participants’ median (interquartile range) age was 38.0 (27.0–52.0) years. Of the participants, 255 (27.9%) had used PPIs. In Poisson regression, after adjusting for confounders (age, sex, education, occupation, marital status, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, smoking, alcohol), use of PPIs [adjusted relative risk = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.21–1.40] was associated with a higher depression score. Of 914 adults, 155 (17.0%) had depression (PHQ-9 score of ≥ 8). Before matching (PSM), in multivariate binary regression (after removing confounders), PPIs were associated with depression [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)= 1.64; 95% CI = 1.14–2.37]. After matching, PPIs were associated with depression (AOR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.13–2.41). Conclusion: This study revealed a positive association between PPI use and depression. Longitudinal studies will be necessary to examine this relationship in more depth.

Mental health disorders, including depression, pose a significant global health threat, particularly among specific populations, such as men with infertili

Background: Mental health disorders, including depression, constitute a major global public health concern that can lead to significant morbidity as well as societal costs. Internally displaced people are at risk for depression. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adults in Atbara, northern Sudan, and identify the key factors associated with depressive symptoms, including internal displacement. Methods: Using a stratified sampling technique, data were collected by trained research assistants through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms. Multivariate binary analysis was performed. Results: Three hundred and seventy-three adults were enrolled in this study; 104 (27.9%) were males. Their median age was 42.0 years. Of the 373 adults, 81 (21.7%, 95.0% confidence interval = 17.5–25.9%) had depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores ≥ 8). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher among displaced adults: 39 (28.1%) of the 139 displaced adults had depression, and 42 (17.9%) of the non-displaced adults had depression, p = 0.027. In multivariate binary analysis, being internally displaced was the only factor associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio = 1.82, 95% confidence interval = 1.07–3.08); age, body mass index, sex, education, and marital status were not associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusions: One out of five adults in this region of Sudan had depressive symptoms, which was associated with internal displacement. More effort and further research are needed to explore possible interventions to improve mental health and livelihoods, especially among internally displaced people.