O-44 An analysis of the prevalence of depression among medical staff at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC): a cross-sectional study

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among medical staff at GPHC between August and October 2025. Using stratified random sampling, 323 participants were recruited from various professional categories. Data were collected through a structured, anonymous questionnaire that included demographic and occupational information, workplace stressors, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Clinically significant depressive symptoms was defined as a PHQ-9 score ≥10. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.

Results: The prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptions among participants was 33.4%. Mild depressive symptoms were reported by 39.6% of participants, while 33.5% experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms. The highest prevalence was observed among residents (43.1%), followed by medical interns (36.7%), and nurses (30.8%). Significant associations were identified between depressive symptoms and workplace factors such as uncompensated on-call duties (p=0.002), heavy workload, and burnout. Participants experiencing depressive symptoms were significantly more likely to report impaired work performance and strained professional relationships (p<0.001). Additionally, over 60% of respondents were unaware of available mental health support services within the institution.

Conclusion: Depressive symptoms affects a substantial proportion of medical staff at GPHC, particularly residents, interns, and nurses. Workplace stressors, including uncompensated on-call duties, contribute to this burden and negatively impact professional functioning. Improved awareness and accessibility of institutional mental health support services along with system-level interventions are urgently needed to promote healthcare workers’ wellbeing and maintain quality patient care