Psychological Impact of COVID-19 in Health Care Workers in Early Days of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: With the end of year 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has emerged as the largest pandemic since 2003, rapidly spreading worldwide. COVID-19 was first discovered in Wuhan province in China, it is now declared as public health emergency of international concern by World Health Organization (WHO) on 30 January 2020. The evaluation of psychological impact and status of overburdened HCWs is of immense importance in regard to planning preventive strategies, dealing and coping with upcoming challenges in COVID-19 pandemic. To date, research on immediate psychological effect in HCWs working in hospitals, treating suspected or diagnosed patients with the 2019-nCoV (SARs-CoV-2) in Pakistan in early phases of COVID-19 outbreak is still deficient. We therefore, aimed to investigate the psychological status of HCWs in early phases of COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: This study was multicentre, cross-sectional survey conducted in multiple tertiary care hospitals performing diagnostic test, treating and managing patients with signs and symptoms of COVID -19 disease. Data was collected using a predesigned questionnaire Performa. HCWs working in all clinical departments including doctors, nursing staff, technicians and supporting staff were included in the study. HCWs not consenting for participation in study were excluded. Results: Total of 517 HCWs were included in the study of whom 267 (51.6%) were males and 250 (48.6%) were females. Mean age was 30.4 years (Standard deviation, SD: 7.2, age ranges from19-70 years). Regarding the risk of self-infection, 193 (37.3%) HCWs were worried and 156 (30.2%) were strongly worried. Female HCWs (31.2%) were more concerned than males (29.2%). Most of HCWs were apprehensive about their family members being infected from them. 58.4% of females were strongly worried and 29.2% of females were worried. Medical violence was also concern for HCWs. 39.2% of females and 40.8% of males were worried. Most of HCWs were strongly worried about the health of their colleagues treating and managing the COVID -19 patients on the front line. Prevention strategy for COVID-19 such as social distancing and lockdown was also a concern for all HCWs. Majority of HCWs (48.4%) were hopeful that this pandemic will end within 3 months. Conclusion: We have concluded that there is strong psychological impact among HCWs with special focus on doctors and nurses regarding COVID-19 pandemic making their mental health more vulnerable. Therefore, more attention should be paid on HCWs with allocation of medical and human resources and providing incentives to efficiently manage COVID-19 outbreak.