Comprehensive Summary
Parejas et al. tracked changes over time of mental health and substance use among Swiss emergency department (ED) residents during a 6-month rotation. This single-center longitudinal study was conducted at Lausanne University Hospital from 2020 to 2022, with participants completing surveys at the start and end of their ED rotations. Surveys assessed mental health, substance use, and lifestyle factors using validated tools, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Analysis of 31 paired pre- and post-rotation surveys showed mild but statistically significant increases in emotional exhaustion, depression, and depersonalization scores. Sleep quality worsened, while anxiety levels decreased during the rotation. Substance use, religious beliefs, and other personal factors remained stable. Resident interviews highlighted stressors such as patient flow pressure, irregular shifts disrupting social life, sleep disturbances, and emotionally intense experiences (eg, patient death) as contributors to these mental health changes.
Outcomes and Implications
These findings suggest that demanding schedules, high patient volumes, and emotionally challenging clinical situations can adversely affect ED residents’ mental health. Longitudinal monitoring of residents’ mental health and well-being can help identify evolving support needs. Clinically, the modest but significant increases in burnout, depressive symptoms, and sleep deterioration indicate that within only 6 months, residents experience measurable declines in health and lifestyle. The stability in substance use suggests that residents did not adopt new maladaptive coping behaviors despite declines in mental health. The authors recommend reinforcing support systems such as accessible psychological services, peer mentoring, and promotion of healthy lifestyle habits to mitigate these mental health changes. The authors emphasize that further research is needed to evaluate the persistence and long-term clinical impact of these findings.