Prevalence, risk factors and sources of anxiety among Emergency Department healthcare workers in Pakistan during COVID-19 pandemic: A single center survey

COVID-19 has challenged the mental health of healthcare workers confronting it world-wide. Our study identifies the prevalence and risk of anxiety among emergency healthcare workers confronting COVID-19 in Pakistan. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in an Emergency Department using the Generaliz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental Results 2021-01, Vol.2, Article e2
Main Authors: Haroon, N., Owais, S. S., Khan, A. S., Amin, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age groups
Anxiety
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 pandemic
Disease control
Disease prevention
Disease transmission
Emergency medical care
Gender
Health care
healthcare workers
Medical personnel
Mental health
Nurses
Pakistan
Pandemics
Paramedics
Questionnaires
Risk factors
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Stress
Variables
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:COVID-19 has challenged the mental health of healthcare workers confronting it world-wide. Our study identifies the prevalence and risk of anxiety among emergency healthcare workers confronting COVID-19 in Pakistan. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in an Emergency Department using the Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), and questions about sources of anxiety. Of 107 participants, 61.7% were frontline workers. The prevalence of anxiety was 50.5%. Nonparametric tests determined that nurses, younger and inexperienced staff, developed significant anxiety. Multivariate ordinal regression determined independent risk factors for developing anxiety were younger age (OR 2.11, 95% CI 0.89–4.99) and frontline placement (OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.33–1.66). Significant sources of stress were fear of infecting family (P = 0.003), lack of social support when the health care providers were themselves unwell (P = 0.02) and feelings of inadequate work performance (P = 0.05). Our study finds that HCWs’ anxiety is considerable. Appropriate measures for its alleviation and prevention are required.
ISSN:2516-712X
2516-712X
DOI:10.1017/exp.2020.68