• Samuel Ofei-Dodoo, Colleen Loo-Gross, and Rick Kellerman.
• From the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita (SO-D, CL-G, RK). sofeidodoo@kumc.edu.
• J Am Board Fam Med. 2021 May 1; 34 (3): 522-530.

IntroductionCOVID-19 has spread rapidly, with vast global implications. This study assessed how family physicians in Kansas were responding to COVID-19 and the effects of the pandemic on their well-being.MethodsThe authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of 113 family physicians in Kansas between May 22, 2020 and June 25, 2020. The study participants completed an anonymous, 36-item survey assessing their concerns about being exposed to COVID-19 and levels of personal depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout in addition to demographic information.ResultsThere was a 45.6% response rate, with 50.4% (n = 57) of the respondents reporting manifestations of burnout. The physicians who personally treated any presumptive or confirmed COVID-19 patient, compared with those who did not, were more likely to report at least 1 manifestation of burnout, experience emotional exhaustion, and feel a higher level of personal stress.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic may be taking an emotional toll on family physicians in Kansas. This study provides a baseline from which to continue further monitoring of outcomes. Data can help drive initiatives at local, state, and national levels to help diminish the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physicians.© Copyright 2021 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

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