Cardio-oncology & otherCross-sectional study
Emotional Impact of Patient Death and Associated Psychological Distress in Cardiac Physicians
- Cross-sectional survey
Authors' conclusion
The emotional impact of patient death is significantly associated with symptoms of psychological distress among CPs, highlighting an under-recognized dimension of physician well-being that requires targeted institutional support and training.
Study context
- Population
- French cardiac physicians (CPs)CPs completed the survey among 6,080 invited physicians (response rate 12.2%)
- Participants
- 747 physicians
- Exposure
- Emotional Impact of Patient Death (EIPD) quartiles; high EIPD
- Q4n = 201
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Psychological distress symptoms in Q4 participants
| Group | anxiety | depression | post-traumatic stress disorder | severe burnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 | n = 104, 52% | n = 85, 42% | n = 121, 60% | n = 103, 51% |
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Conflicts with colleagues and use of psychotropic or addictive substances
- Q4 reported more frequent conflicts with colleagues and higher use of psychotropic or addictive substances
Risk factors of high EIPD (Q3-Q4 vs Q1-Q2)
- female sex, cardiothoracic surgical specialty, and a history of personal trauma were independently associated with high EIPD
- multivariable analysis
Respondent characteristics
- mean age
- 44.5 ± 12.3 years
- women
- 43%
- cardiologists
- 75%
- anesthesiologists
- 12%
- surgeons
- 8%
- pediatric cardiologists
- 5%
- Q4 share of respondents
- 26%
Original publication
Emotional Impact of Patient Death and Associated Psychological Distress in Cardiac Physicians. JACC Adv. Published 17 June 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102861
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it