COVID-19 and Its Impact on Healthcare Workers: Understanding Stigma, Stress, and Quality of Life

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively impacted public health systems worldwide and created anxiety and stress among communities, resulting in the stigmatization of patients infected with the virus. Stigmatization of individuals who are sick or thought to be infected has a long history and can lead to discrimination and prejudice. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-19-related stigma in Jordan, assess the relationship between stigma and the quality of life (QoL) in healthcare workers, and identify possible measures to decrease stressful events. Understanding the psychological effects of healthcare workers' jobs and reducing their burden is essential to improving medical outcomes and the QoL of patients.Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three primary hospitals in Amman, Jordan, from July to December 2021. Healthcare workers were recruited through convenience sampling and completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included demographic information, a validated COVID-19 stigma questionnaire, work conditions during the pandemic, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale -21 Items (DASS-21) questionnaire to measure depression, anxiety, and stress, and the EUROHIS-QOL questionnaire to assess the QoL. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests and post hoc analysis. The study was approved by the institutional review board, and participation was voluntary and confidential.Results: The study was conducted among 683 healthcare workers in Jordan, with 77.7% based in the capital city, Amman. Most of the participants were between 18 and 30 years of age, and slightly more than half were female. The study found that 38.1% of healthcare workers would not take the COVID-19 vaccine once it became available. More than half (56%) reported experiencing stress, 61% reported anxiety, and 65% reported depression during the pandemic. Internal medicine specialties and frontline nurses reported the highest levels of stress, and healthcare workers with greater exposure to COVID-19 patients reported higher levels of anxiety and stress. Only 3% of participants reported experiencing stigmatization (p=0.043), with low-income participants reporting it more frequently. Stigmatization was significantly correlated with feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress (p<0.001).Conclusion: Healthcare workers' mental well-being has been affected negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in depression, anxiety, and stress. Widespread mental surveillance for healthcare workers is crucial to protect healthcare workers from psychological issues and to improve the healthcare service provided to patients. Stigma among healthcare workers can be a major factor that may increase depression, anxiety, and stress.

Dreaming about the pandemic: A thematic content analysis of COVID-19-related dreams during the outbreak in Portugal.

“…This result is consistent with the multiple challenges and stressors faced by healthcare workers in their professional environment, such as the shortage of protective equipment during the early stages of the pandemic, time pressure to carry out tasks, losing colleagues to the disease, high rates of infection and death, and stress related to known and particularly unknown information (Gupta et al, 2021;Hall, 2020;Outeirinho et al, 2023). Research consistently reported the detrimental consequences of the pandemic in this specific population, namely adverse effects on mental health, with high rates of burnout, increased symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, and a negative impact on sleep and self-efficacy (Alhouri et al, 2023;Gupta et al, 2021;Hall, 2020;Outeirinho et al, 2023). The prevalence of workrelated dream themes in this population, including inefficiency, suggests that these environmental challenges "invaded" the oneiric life of healthcare workers.…”

Association of Mediterranean Diet Adherence with Sociodemographic, Anthropometric, and Lifestyle Factors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greece

“…A cross-sectional survey has indicated that healthcare workers have showed a worsening in several aspects of their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increased risk of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress [70]. The intensity of the stress and anxiety symptomatology was dependent on the specialization of the healthcare personnel and the duration of exposure with individuals infected with COVID-19.…”

The Role of Servant Leadership in Supporting the Health Workforce during COVID 19

“…Made it extremely challenging for them to be able to balance the desire to sacrifice their safety and comfort to save lives oneself without compromising their health. It has also been reported that in some countries, health workers encountered stigma related to mental health struggles during the pandemic which deterred them from seeking support and hindered the development of a psychologically safe work environment [56,57].…”