King Salman Center for Disability Research, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Scientific Computing Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
PLoS One. 2022 Jun 3;17(6):e0268976. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268976. eCollection 2022.
Few studies have considered the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We estimated the prevalence and severity of psychological distress and characterized predisposing risk factors among HCWs in KSA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 1,985 HCWs from 6 hospitals across the country designated with caring for COVID-19 patients between April 16 and June 21, 2020. Our data analysis was performed using logistic regressions. Ordered logistic regressions were also performed using forward stepwise model selection to explore the effects of risk factors on psychological distress.
The prevalence of psychological distress reported by HCWs in KSA was high, ranging from mild-moderate to severe in severity. Younger HCWs, women, those in contact with COVID-19 patients, and those who either had loved ones affected or who were themselves affected by COVID-19 were the most at-risk of psychological distress. Risk factors such as insomnia, loneliness, fear of transmission, and separation from loved ones most significantly predicted elevated levels of distress among HCWs.
Increasing psychological distress was commonly reported by HCWs during the early months of COVID-19 pandemic in KSA. Public health policy makers and mental health professionals must give special attention to risk factors that predispose HCWs in KSA to psychological distress.
鲜有研究考虑到 COVID-19 对沙特阿拉伯王国（KSA）医护人员（HCWs）心理健康的影响。我们评估了 COVID-19 大流行期间 KSA 医护人员心理困扰的发生率和严重程度，并对其潜在风险因素进行了特征分析。
我们于 2020 年 4 月 16 日至 6 月 21 日对全国 6 家指定收治 COVID-19 患者的医院的 1985 名 HCWs 进行了横断面在线调查。我们使用逻辑回归进行数据分析。我们还使用逐步向前模型选择进行有序逻辑回归，以探讨风险因素对心理困扰的影响。
KSA 医护人员报告的心理困扰发生率较高，严重程度从轻度-中度到重度不等。年轻的 HCWs、女性、与 COVID-19 患者接触的 HCWs，以及有亲人受 COVID-19 影响或自身受 COVID-19 影响的 HCWs 是最容易受到心理困扰的人群。失眠、孤独、对传播的恐惧以及与亲人分离等风险因素最显著地预测了 HCWs 心理困扰水平的升高。
在 COVID-19 大流行的早期，KSA 医护人员普遍报告心理困扰增加。公共卫生政策制定者和心理健康专业人员必须特别关注使 KSA 的 HCWs 易患心理困扰的风险因素。
