Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare · 5 authors, 6 centres
This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.
This international cross-sectional survey of 123 health professionals found that the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant stress, burnout, and operational problems for them, while also worsening the psychosocial functioning and access to care for the people with diabetes they serve.
The study used an anonymous online survey sent to members of five diabetes psychosocial organizations. It included 123 respondents from 27 countries, primarily women aged 31-40 in urban hospital settings. The central result was that over half of professionals reported moderate to serious levels of their own stress, burnout, or mental health issues during the pandemic. They also reported widespread problems with unclear public health guidelines, concerns about COVID-19 safety for themselves, staff, and patients, and limited patient access to or knowledge of diabetes technology and telemedicine. Most participants expressed concerns about the behavioral and psychosocial functioning of people with diabetes during the pandemic. Key limitations include the low 20% response rate, a small and potentially biased sample, and retrospective reporting. The findings suggest a high level of detrimental impact on the healthcare workforce and patient care, highlighting the need for policy changes and additional services.
