Comparison of Generalized Anxiety and Sleep Disturbance among Frontline and Second-Line Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, also known as COVID-19, has developed into an alarming situation around the world. Healthcare workers are playing the role of frontline defense to safeguard the lives of everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate the anxiety levels and sleep quality among frontline and second-line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this cross-sectional study, a validated, self-administered, electronic questionnaire was distributed through email to healthcare workers. The selection of 1678 healthcare workers was based on a convenience sampling technique. The General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) instrument scales were used to assess healthcare workers’ anxiety levels and sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of 1678 respondents, 1200 (71.5%) were frontline healthcare workers, while 478 (28.5%) were second-line healthcare workers. Among all the healthcare workers, 435 (25.92%) were experiencing moderate to severe anxiety. Among them, 713 (59.4%) frontline healthcare workers were experiencing anxiety in comparison with 277 (57.9%) second-line healthcare workers. Severe anxiety symptoms were seen in 137 (11.41%) frontline healthcare workers compared to 44 (9.20%) second-line healthcare workers. In total, 1376 (82.0%) healthcare workers were found to have poor sleep quality; 975 (58.10%) were frontline, and 407 (23.89%) were second-line healthcare workers. The highest poor sleep quality levels were found among 642 (84.6%) of the healthcare workers who work in frontline areas (emergency departments, intensive care units, and wards) compared to 734 (79.9%) of the healthcare workers who work in second-line areas. These findings provide a substantial contribution to the consolidation of evidence concerning the negative impact of the pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs). These results have established an association that the COVID-19 pandemic causes larger negative psychological symptoms in frontline healthcare workers, such as severe anxiety and poor sleep quality. Preventive measures to minimize anxiety levels and maintain sleep quality, addressing this issue nationally and globally, are essential to support the healthcare workers who are sacrificing their mental health for the future of our nations.

Sleep disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression

“… SD 6 145 McCracken et al, 2020 [ 187 ] Sweden No General Population Cross-sectional design, N = 1212, Female = 73.8%, Age = 36.1 years. ISI 8 146 Meo et al, 2021 [ 188 ] Saudi Arabia Yes Healthcare workers [Frontline = 71.5%, Nurses = 15.4%] Cross-sectional design, N = 1678, Female = 51.2%, Age = 34.1 years. PSQI 7 147 Miaskowski et al, 2020 [ 189 ] USA Yes Special Population Cross-sectional design, N = 187, Female = 97.9%, Age = 63.3 years.…”

Generalized Anxiety among Swiss Health Professions and Non-Health Professions Students: An Open Cohort Study over 14 Months in the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Furthermore, several recent studies raise concerns for the mental health of younger people [24][25][26][27][28][29], particularly university students [30][31][32][33], who appear to be more vulnerable to depression and anxiety symptoms. Similarly, healthcare workers [25,27,[34][35][36][37][38][39] were at high risk of mental illness. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis on generalized anxiety disorder among health care workers during the pandemic found that the prevalence for this specific occupational group was 32.0% and identified anxiety disorders as one of the fundamental psychological problems [40].…”

Sleep Habits during COVID-19 Confinement: An Exploratory Analysis from Portugal

“…Kim-Godwin et colleagues conducted a study of sleep quality among female nurses in the United States during the onset of the pandemic, and it was found that nurses working part-time, with a lower perception of physical health, with a lower self-care score for self-regulation, and greater stress at work had worse sleep quality [66]. A study aimed to investigate levels of anxiety and sleep quality among first-and second-line health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, found that 25.92% of respondents experienced moderate to severe anxiety, with severe symptoms of anxiety observed in 11.41% of first-line, compared to 9.20% of second-line health professionals, and respectively 84.6% and 79.9% in levels of poor sleep quality [67].…”