Evaluation of the Nutritional Status Changes of Resident Physicians Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine nutritional changes in the working environment of resident physicians before and during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Resident physicians working at Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşçıoğlu City Hospital and who agreed to participate were included in the study. Data were collected using an online questionnaire method developed by the researchers for determining demographic characteristics and nutritional changes in the study participants. Results were analyzed with the SPSS statistical program. Results: The COVID-19 outbreak affected the nutritional status of 82.2% of the resident physicians. The rate of physicians trying to eat a healthy diet during the pandemic was 79.1%. However, the number of physicians who increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables during the epidemic was 58.2%. During the pandemic, water consumption of the resident physicians was evaluated, and a 51.1% decrease in water consumption was found. While 78.3% of the physicians slept 6–8 hours per night before the pandemic, this rate decreased to 56.6% during the pandemic while the number of physicians who slept for 1 to 5 hours increased to 38% during the Covid-19 outbreak. A significant relationship between sleep duration before and during the pandemic was found (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The Covid-19 outbreak has greatly and continues to affect the living standards of resident physicians. During the study period, it was observed that the diet and sleep patterns of resident physicians who worked in an intense environment had been disrupted.