Questionnaire

The survey contained demographic questions on age, gender, and relationship status; and questions relating to stage of training (BST, HST, CPD scheme), years of experience in psychiatry, and if psychiatry was the preferred career choice. Participants were also asked about working hours, European Working Time Directive (EWTD) compliance, on-call hours, and supervision. The EWTD is a group of regulations designed for the health and safety of workers which are based on European Union policy and adopted by many countries in the EU. These stipulations include an average 48-h working week with appropriate rest breaks and holidays. On-call hours are defined as hours of working outside those of a regular Monday–Friday 39-h week. Questions related to COVID-19 included the following: did the respondent test positive for COVID-19 within the last 12 months; was the individual mandated to self-isolate; and level of exposure (days per week) to COVID-19-positive patients. Participants were also asked about what may have increased their stress levels during the pandemic, such as concerns regarding risk of transmission; access to adequate PPE; increased workload; staff shortages due to COVID-19; and social connectedness with family/friends. Respondents were also asked about how the pandemic had impacted supervision and leave entitlements within the last 12 months. Supervision was defined as 1 h per week face-to-face time with their appointed supervising consultant. The questionnaire also contained validated scales for assessing psychological domains of burnout, work satisfaction, and psychological well-being, using the Abbreviated-Maslach Burnout Inventory (a-MBI), the Basic Needs Satisfaction at Work (BNSW) Scale, and the WHO-5 Well-being Index. A support list was attached to the end of the survey containing links to relevant occupational well-being resources.