Azhar Aaiza, Mahmood Amina, Hasan Fahad, Tauseef Ambreen, Shahzad Ayesha, Tarin Taha Ahmed
Internal Medicine, CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry, Lahore, PAK.
Medicine, CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry, Lahore, PAK.
Cureus. 2021 Aug 26;13(8):e17450. doi: 10.7759/cureus.17450. eCollection 2021 Aug.
Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic and has become a major life-threatening challenge. The sudden and fast spread of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide caused a sudden increase in the workload of health care workers in parallel with the possible increase in mortality rates and the spread of this disease to a large number of people. Clinicians, who are our frontline warriors, are not only at high risk of catching COVID-19, but their mental health is also at stake. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and its association with the working environment in clinical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study collected data from 400 medical doctors through an online survey, carried out for six months. The anxiety of participants was assessed by using the Zung Self Rating anxiety scale (SAS). An anxiety index of greater than or equal to 50 was marked as anxious. Descriptive chi-square analysis and correlation analysis were used. Results This study found that out of a total, 20.1% of the participants suffered from anxiety. Anxiety was found to be positively associated with sociodemographic factors like the age of the doctor (p=0.001), their gender (p=0.000), their working environment (p=0.005), working in basic healthcare units (p=0.015), patient load per week (p=0.005), personal protective equipment (PPE) availability to doctor according to WHO guidelines (p=0.007), and patient compliance with doctors' orders (p=0.009). Conclusion We conclude that professional healthcare workers suffered from anxiety due to working conditions in the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific interventions and steps such as improving staffing and resources, policies to ensure fair distribution of working hours and rest breaks, workplace protections, work-family balance, health professional's emotional stability, and long-term benefits should be taken so as to minimize the lasting effects of these factors.
引言
2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）是一场全球大流行疾病，已成为一项重大的危及生命的挑战。COVID-19在全球范围内的突然快速传播，导致医护人员的工作量突然增加，同时死亡率可能上升，且该疾病传播至大量人群。临床医生作为我们的一线战士，不仅面临感染COVID-19的高风险，其心理健康也受到威胁。本研究的目的是确定COVID-19大流行期间临床专业人员焦虑症的患病率及其与工作环境的关联。
方法
这项横断面研究通过在线调查，在六个月内收集了400名医生的数据。使用zung自评焦虑量表（SAS）评估参与者的焦虑程度。焦虑指数大于或等于50被标记为焦虑。采用描述性卡方分析和相关性分析方法。
结果
本研究发现，总共有20.1%的参与者患有焦虑症。焦虑与社会人口统计学因素呈正相关，如医生年龄（p=0.001）、性别（p=0.000）、工作环境（p=0.005）、在基层医疗机构工作（p=0.015）、每周患者负荷（p=0.005）以及根据世界卫生组织指南医生个人防护装备（PPE）的可获得性（p=0.007），还有患者对医嘱的依从性（p=0.009）。
结论
我们得出结论，在COVID-19大流行期间，专业医护人员因工作条件而患有焦虑症。应采取具体干预措施和步骤，如改善人员配备和资源、确保公平分配工作时间和休息时间的政策、工作场所保护、工作与家庭平衡、卫生专业人员的情绪稳定以及长期福利，以尽量减少这些因素的持久影响。
