Riaz Babar, Rafai Wajid A, Ussaid Ahmad, Masood Atif, Anwar Sohail, Baig Faisal A, Saleem Khurram, Nasir Shumaila A, Firdous Zaima, Iqbal Farrukh
University College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan.
Future Healthc J. 2021 Jul;8(2):e293-e298. doi: 10.7861/fhj.2020-0193.
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals' stamina and wellbeing. This study examines the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals.
This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2020 after institutional review board approval at a tertiary care institution in Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 175 healthcare workers participated following an online Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire invitation and 41 were excluded following pre-existing mental health conditions. Data was analysed using MS Excel and SPSS Amos 23. Chi-squared test and regression were applied for comparison and impact of confounding variables respectively (p<0.05 was considered significant).
Out of 134, 66 (49%) were doctors, 24 (18%) were nurses and 44 (33%) were non-medical professionals. Ninety-five (70%) with age 21-30 years. Male to female ratio was 2:1. Overall mean depression score accounted for 6.89 ± 6.64; anxiety score was 7.28 ± 6.74 and stress score was 8.83 ± 6.93. Mild depression, anxiety and stress was noted in 21 (15.6%), eight (6%) and 27 (20.1%) healthcare workers, respectively. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was observed among healthcare workers for depression, anxiety and stress.
This study demonstrated considerable impact of COVID-19 on mental health of healthcare workers. A well-structured targeted mental health support programme is needed urgently to support and reduce the long-term impact on healthcare workers' mental health and wellbeing.
新冠疫情给医疗机构及医护人员的耐力和健康带来了挑战。本研究旨在探讨新冠疫情对医护人员的心理影响。
本分析性横断面研究于2020年7月在巴基斯坦拉合尔的一家三级医疗机构获得机构审查委员会批准后开展。共有175名医护人员在收到在线抑郁、焦虑和压力量表-21（DASS-21）问卷邀请后参与，另有41人因既往存在心理健康问题被排除。数据使用MS Excel和SPSS Amos 23进行分析。分别应用卡方检验和回归分析来比较和分析混杂变量的影响（p<0.05被视为具有统计学意义）。
在134名参与者中，66名（49%）为医生，24名（18%）为护士，44名（33%）为非医学专业人员。95名（70%）年龄在21至30岁之间。男女比例为2:1。总体平均抑郁评分为6.89±6.64；焦虑评分为7.28±6.74；压力评分为8.83±6.93。分别有21名（15.6%）、8名（6%）和27名（20.1%）医护人员存在轻度抑郁、焦虑和压力。医护人员在抑郁、焦虑和压力方面存在统计学显著差异（p<0.05）。
本研究表明新冠疫情对医护人员的心理健康产生了重大影响。迫切需要一个结构完善的针对性心理健康支持项目，以支持并减轻对医护人员心理健康和福祉的长期影响。
