The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic Process on COVID-19 Phobia, Secondary Traumatic Stress Level and Quality of Sleep in Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional and Comparative study

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: The study was conducted to determine the effect of the pandemic process on COVID-19 phobia, secondary traumatic stress levels and quality of sleep in healthcare professionals working in a primary healthcare institution and a pandemic hospital. Material and Method: Thus comparative study was conducted with the participation of a total of 249 healthcare professionals, including 130 from a pandemic hospital and 119 from primary healthcare institutions. The data were obtained using a Personal Information Form, the Coronavirus 19 Phobia (CP19-S) Scale, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: It was determined that the mean score in the CP19-S somatic subscale was 10.72±4.76 for the healthcare professionals working in the primary healthcare institutions and 12.18±5.07 for those working in the pandemic hospital, and the difference between the mean scores was statistically significant (p=0.021).The STSS total mean score was 40.86±14.45 in the healthcare professionals working in the primary healthcare institutions and 46.45±16.07 in those working in the pandemic hospital, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p=0.004).The PSQI total mean score was 9.48±3.39 in the healthcare professionals working in the primary healthcare institutions and 11.06±3.99 in those working in the pandemic hospital, and the difference between the mean scores was statistically significant (p=0.001). Conclusions: It was determined that the healthcare professionals working in the pandemic hospital experienced more COVID-19 phobia and secondary traumatic stress and also had worse sleep quality in comparison to the healthcare professionals working in the primary healthcare institutions.