AUTHOR=Ding Lin , Guo Ni , Zhu Jianing , Tuxunjiang Dilinuer , Abudoukeremuahong Aierxiding , Zuo Chengguo , Lin Mingkai 

TITLE=Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression, Anxiety and Insomnia Symptoms Among Patients Receiving Ophthalmic Consultation Online During the COVID-2019 Pandemic

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.855366

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2022.855366

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: To evaluate the psychological status and associated factors among patients undergoing ophthalmic consultation online due to COVID-2019. Methods: Data from online ophthalmic consultation patients were collected, and a survey was conducted to assess the patients’ symptoms of depression, anxiety and insomnia and their attitudes toward the online consultation. Results: The online service provided 425 consultations during the COVID-19 lockdown period and 87 after the lockdown. Of these eligible subjects, 139 patients responded to an invitation to participant in the study (105/75.5% were females, and 40/28.8% were health care workers). More than half of the participants reported that they trusted and were satisfied with the online consultation (109/78.4% and 82/59%, respectively). Fifty-two (37.4%), 32 (23.0%), and 53 (38.1%) patients showed symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia, respectively. Depression was found to be significantly more common in health care workers (P=0.019). Anxiety was more common among participants who had used electronics for a long time (P=0.038). Binary logistic regression showed health care work as a risk factor for depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 2.424; 95% CI: 1.143–5.143; P = 0.021). Conclusion: Psychological distress is highly prevalent among patients who were involved in online ophthalmic consultation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the context of a major public health event, ophthalmologists should focus not only on ocular symptoms but also on the mental health of their patients, and appropriate psychological support should be given.