Psychological Impact of Working in a COVID-19 Treatment Facility on the Mental Well Being of Health Care Workers

Abstract

The health care infrastructure has witnessed new norms and protocols which evolved rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding confusion in the minds of one and all. Working for the sick COVID-19 patients in the middle of the raging pandemic can have long lasting and deep mental health issues among the health care workers. If not timely addressed, it can have repercussions on the quality of patient care. A cross-sectional study was conducted through online Google survey forms on the health care workers deputed to different COVID-19 hospitals and COVID Care centers in Odisha, India. The study group included doctors, nurses, pharmacists, paramedical staffs and others. A link to the form was sent through the different Whatsapp groups. The questionnaire included questions on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic and information on self-perceived psychological distress concerning the pandemic. 97.5% of the participants confirmed COVID-19 related anxiety. 41.8% slept lesser than usual. 61.1% intended to seek psychosocial support.70.6% experienced fear about their health. 89.1% had fear of passing on infection to their loved ones.49.3% had to deal with work frustration. Younger age and lesser years of work experience were factors for decreased work satisfaction. This study highlights the mental health status of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to identify vulnerable subsets among them and allay their anxieties and implement effective measures in order to keep the quality of patient care uncompromised in similar future scenarios