Depresija, anksioznost i stres kod zdravstvenih djelatnika u vrijeme pandemije COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: The pandemic of the disease COVID-19 has a tremendous emotional impact on both patients and health workers who are in charge of assisting the infected. The heavy burden on them is further increased by the high and constant risk of exposure to infection and death and separation from their families. The newly created excessive professional demands that the environment around us sets, which cannot be adequately responded to, are the drivers, or stressors, that form the basis for depression and anxiety.Methods: A questionnaire survey (DASS-21) was conducted on 100 employees of the Croatian Hospital “Dr. fra Mato Nikolić” Nova Bila in the period from June to October 2022. The respondents were doctors and nurses who work in intensive care units, the internal department, and the surgery department.Results: All respondents had a certain level of stress (40% extremely severe stress), anxiety (65% extremely severe anxiety), and depression (46% extremely severe depression). There is a significant correlation between stress, depression, and anxiety with concern for the financial situation considering the consequences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also a correlation with the claim of concern for one's own mental health, but also with the fear of infection or reinfection with the virus.Conclusion: Healthcare workers who work with patients with COVID-19 are significantly exposed to stress, anxiety, and depression. It is necessary to provide healthcare workers with psychophysical support, especially in crises such as the pandemic caused by COVID-19.