Anxiety Levels Of Healthcare Workers Research Articles

Healthcare Workers' Anxiety Levels and Mindful Attention Awareness Towards the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim: Mindful attention awareness and anxiety levels of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic were unknown. In this study, we aimed to measure the behavioral changes of healthcare workers together with their anxiety and mindful attention awareness levels during the pandemic. Methods: A brief mental health examination was conducted on healthcare workers who were actively involved in the COVID-19 pandemic to identify any dysfunctional anxiety issues associated with COVID-19. A survey containing behavioral changes, as well as a coronavirus anxiety scale and mindful attention awareness scale were administered to healthcare workers during the pandemic. Results: A total of 146 healthcare workers, 56.2% of women were included in the study. The coronavirus anxiety scale score values of the participants were a mean of 4±4.4 (Min=0-Max=20), and 13.7% of them had high levels of anxiety. The mean score for the mindful attention awareness scale score was a mean 59.4±13.9 (Min=22-Max=90). Females had higher coronavirus anxiety scale scores (p=0.003), but males had greater mindful attention awareness scale scores (p=0.001). It was determined that the coronavirus anxiety scale total scores averages of healthcare workers whose sleep (p=0.001), out-of-hospital clothing (p=0.006), and eating habits (p=0.017) changed during the pandemic were statistically significantly higher (p<0.05). Healthcare workers with higher coronavirus anxiety scores used more prophylactic drugs and supplements/vitamins after contact with COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: Although the coronavirus anxiety scale score was below average and the mindful attention awareness scale score was above average, healthcare workers' behaviors changed during the pandemic. Coronavirus anxiety and mindful attention awareness scale levels affected the behaviors of healthcare workers. Psychosocial support programs must be provided to healthcare workers during the pandemic.

The Unspoken Wounds: Understanding the Psychological Impact on Healthcare Professionals Fighting COVID-19 in Pakistan

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital staff faced numerous mental health challenges. However, limited research focused on anxiety and stress specifically among hospital workers during this time. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anxiety levels of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A multidimensional, cross-sectional survey was distributed to healthcare workers and staff at hospitals, COVID-19 laboratories, and healthcare settings. The survey included a total of 625 frontline healthcare workers, with 445 (71.2%) being male and 180 (28.8%) female. There were 405 (64.8%) lab professionals, 90 (14.0%) doctors, and 130 (20.8%) others, including nursing staff, administrative personnel, and supporting staff crucial to the functioning of healthcare settings. Among the lab professionals, 37.0% reported moderate depression levels and 16.0% reported severe depression levels during the pandemic. For doctors, 22.2% experienced mild depression and 33.33% experienced severe depression. Several factors were significantly associated with depression and anxiety among frontline healthcare workers, including physiological and social factors, fear of infection, risk of infecting family members and colleagues, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), long working hours, untrained staff, social issues, and cooperation problems. These factors collectively contributed to reduced work efficacy during the pandemic. Frontline health workers played a critical role in the fight against COVID-19. The findings from this study have important implications for developing strategies to improve the mental health of healthcare workers during the pandemic and implementing policies that enhance work efficacy, ultimately leading to the improved outcomes.

EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON EMERGENCY SERVICE WORKERS

Introduction:
 Healthcare professionals have been of the fight against the pandemic, continued for more than a year. The anxiety levels of healthcare workers due to increased workload, social isolation, fear of catching COVID-19, etc. have increased significantly. The aim of this study is to determine the anxiety levels of emergency service workers who are always at the forefront of the fighting against the pandemic in Turkey.
 Methods:
 A questionnaire containing demographic information and the questions of 2 different scales (generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale, coronavirus anxiety scale), whose validation and reliability were performed in Turkey, was delivered via the web to the emergency room workers.
 Results:
 Personnel working in the emergency service of a tertiary state hospital, 74% were reached. On the generalized anxiety scale, 53% of the participants received a score of 11 or above (severe anxiety). While the mean values of the generalized anxiety scale in the income and education groups showed a statistically significant correlation, the anxiety mean scores of those with less than 2 years of employment were found to be statistically significantly lower, and the anxiety mean scores of those who had covid-19 during the pandemic were found to be statistically significantly higher. This was found to be related to those with high anxiety and covid-related anxiety scores not wanting to work in the emergency service.
 Conclusion:
 As a result of the study, it was revealed emergency service workers have a high level of anxiety originating from pandemics, regardless of their seniority, age, and gender.

An Investigation of the COVID-19-Related Anxiety Levels of Individuals According to Some Demographic Variables

Background: Pandemics such as COVID-19 create heightened fear and anxiety, causing deterioration in the behaviours, social and psychological well-being of people. It can be thought that the anxiety levels of healthcare workers will increase more because they have a higher risk of contamination, work under COVID-19 isolation-measures and heavy workload. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the COVID-19-related anxiety levels of individuals, the ways of coping with, the demographic factors affecting anxiety, and whether the anxiety level of healthcare workers is different from others. Methods: This study was carried out with data obtained from 1017 participants via google forms between May-July 2020. In the collection of data, the 12-item COVID-19-related anxiety scale, which was developed by researcher and analysed for validity and reliability; 13 items for ways of coping; some demographic questions were used. The COVID-19-related anxiety scale consisted of three dimensions: "cognitive", "physiological and emotional", "behavioural", which explained 71% of the variance. The Cronbach alpha of scale was 0.85. Results: The COVID-19-related anxiety levels of participants were slightly above the moderate level (2.83±0.72). The anxiety levels of healthcare workers were not different from others. There was a difference in anxiety levels according to demographic characteristics of participants, such as age, gender, living in Turkey or abroad, working status/type, and smoking addiction. Cognitive coping, social support, distraction, relaxation techniques were identified as ways of coping with anxiety. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic created anxiety in people. More studies need to understand the long-term effects of the pandemic.

Anxiety Level Of Family Physicians And Family Health Workers In Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction: It has been observed that outbreaks experienced throughout history have caused anxiety by profoundly affecting societies. COVID-19 pandemic soon affected the entire world and caused the deaths of thousands of people. Frequently encountering COVID-19 patients increase the anxiety levels of healthcare workers during the pandemic. This study aimed to determine the anxiety levels of healthcare workers of family health centers in Kayseri during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A total of 214 physicians and family health workers between the ages of 20 and 65 and actively working in Family Health Centers in Kayseri participated in the study. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was used to determine the level of anxiety. Results: Of 214 people who participated in the study, 71.0% were female, 82.7% were married, 52.8% were physicians and 47.2% were family health workers. Their mean age was 38.85. Median employment duration was 14 (min-max: 1-34) years and the median Beck Anxiety Inventory Score was 17 (min-max: 0-63). Of the participants, 53.7% stated that they attended a training program on COVID-19 while 84.1% stated that the outbreak had psychologically affected them. Conclusion: The pandemic has increased the anxiety level of healthcare workers. Mental health of healthcare workers in family health centers affects the quality of the service they provide in the primary care. Therefore, psychosocial support teams should be built up in our country and around the world, and health workers should be supported psychologically as well as patients.

Determination of the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the anxiety levels and life quality of healthcare workers

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of the interventions made to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic on the anxiety level and life quality of healthcare workers. Materials and Methods: The study is a descriptive one, and the data were collected online using the Google Forms application. The Information Form including 15 questions, the Beck Anxiety Scale, and Short Form-36 (SF-36) Life Quality Scale were used to collect data. Five hundred and eight healthcare workers participated in the study. Statistical significance was set as p<0.05. The findings showing statistically significant differences were evaluated using the Games-Howel Post-hoc test. Results: The study revealed that 81.3% of the healthcare workers are worried about their own health during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been found that 38% of the healthcare workers have been experiencing a shortage of protective equipment in the hospital where they work. As far as worrying about one’s own health during the pandemic is concerned, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference between the Beck Anxiety Scale mean scores and the SF-36 Life Quality Scale mean scores. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the anxiety levels of healthcare workers were low during the pandemic and their quality of life was high. It should be foreseen that pandemics such as COVID-19 may also occur in the future, and the psychological effects on healthcare workers should be monitored during pandemics.

Exploring anxiety levels in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: Turkey sample

As in the whole world, the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic poses many threats to healthcare workers in our country too, which leads to anxiety in healthcare workers. This study was conducted to explore the anxiety levels of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is a cross-sectional study. The population consisted of health care workers employed in hospitals in seven regions in Turkey. All volunteer healthcare workers were included in the study, and 356 healthcare workers responded to the questionnaire. The data were collected using the State Anxiety Inventory and a questionnaire created by the researchers using an online questionnaire between 10 May 2020 and 15 May 2020. In the evaluation of the data, mean, standard deviation, percentages, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used. 33% of healthcare workers did not have anxiety, 50% had mild, and 17% had severe anxiety. The anxiety scores of those who were nurses (p < 0.001), who were working in the emergency room (p < 0.001), who were involved in treatment for COVID-19 patients (p = 0.040), who left their homes to prevent transmission to their families and relatives during the pandemic (p = 0.038), and whose working hours had changed (p = 0.036) were found to be significantly higher. It was observed that there was a positive and significant relationship between the fear of death and disease transmission, uncertainty, loneliness, anger, and hopelessness, and anxiety levels in healthcare workers. The main factors that significantly affected the anxiety levels of healthcare workers were male gender, weekly working hours, the presence of chronic diseases, and feelings of anger and uncertainty. In conclusion, during the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers experienced some negative emotions, their anxiety levels increased, and they were psychologically affected. Planning psychosocial interventions for healthcare workers in the high-risk group will make significant contributions to the health system.

Healthcare workers' anxieties and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey.

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the anxiety levels of healthcare workers and the coping strategies they used for stress during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Design and MethodsThis descriptive cross‐sectional study was carried out in April 2020 in Turkey with 444 healthcare workers via three online questionnaires: A participant information form, the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. FindingsHealthcare workers might be considered to experience more anxiety during the pandemic than shown in the studies conducted before the pandemic. Significant differences in SAI score were found in terms of age, gender, and education status.Practice ImplicationsAge, gender, and some variables related to the pandemic affected the anxiety levels and coping strategies of healthcare workers.

Investigation of anxiety levels of 1637 healthcare workers during the epidemic of COVID-19.

This study aimed to investigate the anxiety levels of healthcare workers and to provide guidance on potential accurate social and psychological interventions for healthcare workers during the epidemic of COVID-19 in Zhejiang Province, China. Healthcare workers from five hospitals in Zhejiang Province were randomly selected into this study. Zung Self-Assessment Scale for Anxiety (SAS) was used to evaluate the anxiety status of the included 1637 healthcare workers. The total anxiety score of healthcare workers in Zhejiang Province was 30.85 ± 6.89. The univariate analysis showed that the anxiety level of healthcare workers was related to gender, education, occupation, physical condition, job risk coefficient, and with family members on the first-line combating COVID-19 (P <0.05). The multivariate analysis showed that physical condition and job risk coefficient were predictors of anxiety levels of healthcare workers. During the epidemic of COVID-19, 1637 healthcare workers generally had an increased tendency to have anxiety. Individualized assessment of the anxiety level of healthcare workers should be provided, and different interventions should be given based on the evaluation results.

Anxiety and hopelessness levels in COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative study of healthcare professionals and other community sample in Turkey

COVID-19 affected our mental health as well as our physical health. In this study, the anxiety and hopelessness levels of healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers and the factors affecting them were evaluated in Turkey. Beck Hopelessness Scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was applied online to participants. Totally 2156 individuals were included in the study and 52.0% (n:1121) of them are healthcare workers. The hopelessness and state anxiety levels of healthcare workers were higher than non-healthcare workers. Nurses' hopelessness levels are higher than doctors, and state anxiety levels are higher than both doctors and other healthcare workers. Anxiety and hopelessness levels were higher in women, those living with a high-risk individual at home during the pandemic, those who had difficulty in caring for their children, and those whose income decreased. Anxiety levels are an important predictor of hopelessness. The increase in anxiety levels explained 28.9% of the increase in hopelessness levels. Increased working hours is one of the important factors affecting anxiety. As a conclusion, healthcare workers were more affected psychologically in the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the society. Nurses were affected more than other healthcare workers. It is important to identify the factors affecting anxiety, hopelessness, and individuals who may be more psychologically affected during the pandemic. An important contribution can be made to the protection of public health by ensuring that psychosocial interventions for high-risk groups are planned in advance.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus epidemic impact on healthcare workers' risk perceptions, work and personal lives.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) continues to cause frequent outbreaks in hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Since healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher risk of acquiring and spreading MERS-CoV, we aimed to evaluate the perceived risk and anxiety level of HCWs in Saudi Arabia regarding MERS. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was sent online to HCWs at King Khalid University Hospital in Saudi Arabia. The total knowledge and anxiety scores were calculated. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of high anxiety scores. Of 591 (70%) HCWs that responded, 284 (55%), 164 (32%), and 68 (13.2%) were physicians, nurses, and technicians, respectively. Physicians obtained a lower median knowledge score (6/9) compared to other professions (7/9). The mean anxiety score was similar for physicians and other HCWs (3/5); however, non-physicians expressed higher levels of anxiety toward the risk of transmitting MERS-CoV to their families, with an anxiety score of 4/5. The ability of the virus to cause severe disease or death was the most frequently reported reason for worry by physicians (89.7%) and non-physicians (87.2%). Overall, 80% of physicians and 90% of non-physicians reported improvement in adherence to hand hygiene and standard precautions while in hospital (p = 0.002). Concern over transmitting MERS-CoV to family members was the most predictive factor for anxiety among non-physician HCWs. A significant proportion of HCWs expressed anxiety about the risk of acquiring MERS-CoV infection. Healthcare institutions need to develop an integrated psychological response for HCWs to the occupational and psychological challenge of MERS-CoV outbreaks.