Association of Working Environment and Anxiety Levels in Clinical Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

IntroductionCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic and has become a major life-threatening challenge. The sudden and fast spread of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide caused a sudden increase in the workload of health care workers in parallel with the possible increase in mortality rates and the spread of this disease to a large number of people. Clinicians, who are our frontline warriors, are not only at high risk of catching COVID-19, but their mental health is also at stake. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and its association with the working environment in clinical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional study collected data from 400 medical doctors through an online survey, carried out for six months. The anxiety of participants was assessed by using the Zung Self Rating anxiety scale (SAS). An anxiety index of greater than or equal to 50 was marked as anxious. Descriptive chi-square analysis and correlation analysis were used.ResultsThis study found that out of a total, 20.1% of the participants suffered from anxiety. Anxiety was found to be positively associated with sociodemographic factors like the age of the doctor (p=0.001), their gender (p=0.000), their working environment (p=0.005), working in basic healthcare units (p=0.015), patient load per week (p=0.005), personal protective equipment (PPE) availability to doctor according to WHO guidelines (p=0.007), and patient compliance with doctors’ orders (p=0.009).ConclusionWe conclude that professional healthcare workers suffered from anxiety due to working conditions in the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific interventions and steps such as improving staffing and resources, policies to ensure fair distribution of working hours and rest breaks, workplace protections, work-family balance, health professional's emotional stability, and long-term benefits should be taken so as to minimize the lasting effects of these factors.