Assessment of Anxiety in Healthcare Providers Working in ICU during COVID-19 Pandemics

Abstract

Objective: After onset of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the risk for exposure or having the disease is increased among healthcare providers involved in the treatment of the disease. There are reports of healthcare providers died due to COVID-19 disease who became ill during work. This resulted in psychological distress in healthcare providers. In this study, we aimed to investigate anxiety in healthcare providers working at intensive care units, considered as an area at highest risk, and to confirm social psychological factors among healthcare providers working in hospitals.
 Materials and Methods: The study included 106 healthcare providers working in intensive care unit who accepted participation to the survey. The healthcare providers responded to survey were stratified into 2 groups as those working in pandemic intensive care unit (pandemic group; n=55) and those working in remaining intensive care units (others; n=51). The relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and levels of anxiety and depression was evaluated using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
 Results: In our study, it was found that STAI anxiety scores were higher in healthcare providers working in pandemic intensive care unit during COVID-19 outbreak (p<0.05). In the pandemic group, anxiety scores were significantly higher in male healthcare providers when compared to female healthcare providers (p>0.05). However, it was seen that healthcare providers with work experience of 1-10 years had higher mean anxiety level in STAI-II scale. It was also seen that anxiety score was significantly higher in those with work experience of 1-10 years when compared to those work experience of 11-20 years or ≥21 years (p<0.05). Work setting, male gender, experience of intensive care and concerns about outbreak were identified as factors associated to anxiety.
 Conclusion: Our study showed that STAI anxiety scores were higher in healthcare providers working in pandemic ICU during COVID-19 outbreak. The COVID-19 period has led psychological problems in healthcare providers working in ICU. It is important to provide psychological support and information, and to monitor psychological status in healthcare providers.