Abstract
Objective: In this descriptive cross-sectional study we aimed, to assess the level of depression, anxiety, insomnia and distress symptoms experienced by healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.Methods: All healthcare providers currently working in different hospitals were invited to participate in this study. Data gathering started in March 2020 to May 2020. The participants answered a five-part questionnaire which includes demographic data, a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, a 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a 7-item Insomnia Severity Index, and a 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised, which assess the level of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress.Results: Out of 200 healthcare providers, 40% were males. 52% were aged 31–40 years old, 61% were married. The majority of the participants were Saudi nationals (84%), 74% were nurses, 11% were physicians and 15% were other healthcare providers. More than half of the participants worked as front-liners (57%). Overall, 73, 69, 62, and 83% of all healthcare providers reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress, respectively. The analysis showed severe symptoms level of depression for physicians and nurses was 35% and 20% (p < 0.05), respectively. Only three of the independent variables made a unique contribution to the model (gender, profession, and working position) (p < 0.05).Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. Female nurses and healthcare providers working in the frontline who were directly treating patients with COVID-19 are at increased risk of severe depression, anxiety and distress.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province of China and demonstrated an exponential growth trend in other cities and around the World [1, 2]
The COVID-19 outbreak was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) declared as a pandemic [5]
A total of 200 healthcare providers participated in the study, out of which 40% (N = 80) were males
Summary
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province of China and demonstrated an exponential growth trend in other cities and around the World [1, 2]. As of April 22, 2021, the total number of COVID19 cases was 143,445,675 with 3,051,736 deaths worldwide [6]. Dealing with this critical condition, the government of Saudi Arabia through the Ministry of Health and other authorities has enforced restrictions on flights from and to China as an early preventive measure [7]. The first case of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia was identified on March 2, 2020, and as of April 18, 2020 cases increased to 8,200 with reported deaths of 92. A complete lockdown was implemented, such as banning residents from leaving and circulating between cities and regions, including mass prayer in mosques to prevent the exportation of cases to other cities and regions [7]
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