Psychological Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Healthcare Workers of a Tertiary Care Hospital of Lahore

Abstract

Background: The psychological stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic can have long-term effects on the health and coping abilities of HCWs. COVID 19 has exhausted the healthcare workers globally both physically and mentally. This article focuses on the Psychological stresses faced by the healthcare workers of a tertiary setup. Objective: To determine the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare workers (HCWs) of a tertiary care hospital of Lahore. Study Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Settings: Sharif Medical City Hospital, Lahore Pakistan. Duration: From July 2020 to August 2020. Methodology: A total of 82 healthcare workers were enrolled in the study on a voluntary basis by convenient sampling technique and filled an online questionnaire including demographic information, informed consent, validated Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the factors causing psychological distress. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Results: Out of 82 HCWs, 47(57.3%) had stress, 42(51.2%) had depression and 29(35.4%) had anxiety. Most of the HCWs with stress had mild and moderate stress. The majority of the HCWs were suffering from moderate depression and moderate anxiety. The most common factor causing psychological stress among HCWs was the fear of getting infected with COVID-19 followed by chances of spreading the disease to family members and the non-availability of personal protective equipment. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has a great psychological impact on the healthcare workers in Pakistan. A large proportion of HCWs suffered from stress (57.3%), depression (51.2%) and anxiety (35.4%). The most common factors causing psychological distress in HCWs were the fear of getting infected with COVID-19 (80.5%), chances of spreading the disease to family members (65.9%) and the non-availability of personal protective equipment (59.8%).