Working in a Pandemic Hospital during COVID-19 Outbreak: Current Conditions and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels

Abstract

Objective: Healthcare workers (HCW), who actively participate in combating the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, may experience rage and anxiety due to the high performance expected from them. This study aimed to reveal how working in a pandemic hospital affects the psychological status of healthcare professionals. Methods: 446 HCW, working frontline in a pandemic hospital, were included the study. Questions including basic demographic data and exposure risks to COVID-19 and depression anxiety stress scale (DASS-21) were used as data collection tools. The forms were delivered online, and the responses were similarly collected. Results: DASS-21 scores of 384 (86.1%) HCW, who had contact with patients diagnosed with COVID-19, were found to be higher than HCW who did not have contact with the patients. When we evaluated the scores of DASS-21, the scores were higher in women (p<0.01), HCW diagnosed with COVID-19 among their colleagues (p<0.01), and HCW with relatives diagnosed with COVID-19. Anxiety scores of nurses (p<0.05) and single HCW, were also high (p<0.05). Conclusion: While the world continues to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, HCW are emotionally affected in this intense process. Providing psychosocial support and intervention to cover all healthcare professionals should be targeted by decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of European Archives of Medical Research is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)