Psychological and professional impact of COVID-19 lockdown on French dermatologists: Data from a large survey

L Misery; J-W Fluhr; M Beylot-Barry; N Jouan; P Hamann; S-G Consoli; M Schollhammer; D Charleux; A Bewley; D Rathod

doi:10.1016/j.annder.2021.01.004

Psychological and professional impact of COVID-19 lockdown on French dermatologists: Data from a large survey

Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2021 Jun;148(2):101-105. doi: 10.1016/j.annder.2021.01.004. Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Authors

L Misery¹, J-W Fluhr², M Beylot-Barry³, N Jouan⁴, P Hamann⁵, S-G Consoli⁶, M Schollhammer⁷, D Charleux⁶, A Bewley⁸, D Rathod⁹

Affiliations

¹ Psychodermatology group of the Société française de dermatologie (PsyDerm), 10, cité Malesherbes, 75009 Paris, France; Department of dermatology, Brest University Hospital, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France. Electronic address: laurent.misery@chu-brest.fr.
² Department of dermatology, Brest University Hospital, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France; Department of dermatology and allergy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitépl. 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
³ Société française de dermatologie (SFD-French Dermatology Society), 10, cité Malesherbes, 75009 Paris, France; Department of dermatology, Bordeaux University Hospital, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
⁴ Department of dermatology, Brest University Hospital, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France; Fédération française de formation continue et d'évaluation en dermatologie-vénéréologie (FFFCEDV), 10, cité Malesherbes, 75009 Paris, France.
⁵ Futurs dermato-vénérologues de France (FDVF), 10, cité Malesherbes, 75009 Paris, France.
⁶ Psychodermatology group of the Société française de dermatologie (PsyDerm), 10, cité Malesherbes, 75009 Paris, France.
⁷ Psychodermatology group of the Société française de dermatologie (PsyDerm), 10, cité Malesherbes, 75009 Paris, France; Department of dermatology, Brest University Hospital, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France.
⁸ Barts Health NHS Trust & Queen Mary University of London, The Royal Hospital, Whitechapel road, E1 1BB London, United Kingdom.
⁹ Consultant dermatologist, 400026 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the extent to which COVID-19-related lockdown affected dermatologists.

Methods: An anonymous online survey was proposed to all French dermatologists and dermatology residents to assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on their professional activity, their level of stress and their psychological state, as well as their coping strategies.

Results: Exactly 800 dermatologists completed the survey. The respondents noted changes in behaviour in their professional and personal environment. The number of cancelled or rescheduled appointments was very high, with a huge financial impact for private practitioners. Stigmatisation was also reported. Anxiety and a feeling of increased stress were very frequent. Increased substance use was also reported.

Conclusion: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown was significant for French dermatologists, with risks to their own health, profound changes in their practice, and financial and psychological impact, but also the development of new consultation and evaluation strategies to improve their work-life balance.

Keywords: COVID-19; Dermatologist; Lockdown; Psychological impact.

MeSH terms

Anxiety / epidemiology
Appointments and Schedules
COVID-19 / epidemiology*
Communicable Disease Control*
Dermatologists / psychology*
Female
France / epidemiology
Humans
Male
Pandemics*
Practice Management / economics
Social Stigma
Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Work-Life Balance