<p>Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers in Three Metropolitan Cities of Pakistan</p>

Abstract

The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019) has been associated with psychological distress during its rapid rise period in Pakistan. The present study aimed to assess the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the three metropolitan cities of Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted in 276 HCWs from April 10, 2020, to June 5, 2020. Depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) were used for the mental health assessment of the HCWs. Multivariable logistic regression analysis (MLRA) was performed to measure the association between the demographics and the occurrence of depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS). Results: The frequency of DAS in the HCWs was 10.1%, 25.4%, and 7.3%, respectively. The MLRA showed that the depression in HCWs was significantly associated with the profession (P<0.001). The anxiety in HCWs was significantly associated with their age (P=0.005), profession (P<0.05), and residence (P<0.05). The stress in HCWs was significantly associated with their age (P<0.05). Limitation: This study was conducted in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the number of COVID-19 cases was on the rise in Pakistan and it only represents a definite period (April to June 2020). Conclusion: The symptoms of DAS are present in the HCWs of Pakistan and to manage the psychological health of HCWs, there is a need for the initiation of psychological well-being programs.

Association between COVID-19 and Anxiety among married and unmarried Health workers

“…The study findings revealed a significant difference between the anxiety levels of married and unmarried health care workers in Pakistan. the findings of the current study reported that 49.8% of health workers in Pakistan are experiencing a moderate level of anxiety which is quite high as compared to another study conducted in Pakistan, the overall anxiety level among the health care workers was 25.4%, 10 the level of anxiety reported in India and Singapore among health care workers (15.7%), 11 and the level of anxiety reported in China was 16% and 12.5%. 12,13 Lack of management, as well as the low literacy rate in Pakistan, higher level of anxiety, was reported by health workers in Pakistan.…”

Psychological distress among healthcare providers during COVID-19 in Asia: Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…About two thirds (n = 98) of the studies reported the data on depression [ 8 , 23 – 27 , 29 – 33 , 35 , 36 , 38 – 41 , 45 – 52 , 56 – 60 , 62 – 65 , 67 – 69 , 71 – 76 , 78 – 82 , 84 , 86 , 88 , 89 , 91 , 92 , 94 , 95 , 97 , 99 , 100 , 103 , 104 , 106 – 108 , 111 , 113 , 115 – 117 , 120 , 123 , 124 , 127 , 129 – 133 , 137 , 138 , 140 , 141 , 143 – 146 , 149 , 151 – 154 ,…”

“…There were 40 studies which reported on data regarding stress, using five different type of scales which were Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ), Perceived Stress Scales (PSS), Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ), and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) [ 30 , 31 , 39 , 56 , 59 , 77 , 78 , 91 , 92 , 99 – 102 , 104 , 106 , 107 , 113 , 120 , 123 , 124 , 127 , 129 – 133 , 138 , 140 , 141 , 143 , 144 , 150 , 152 , 153 , 155 , 160 , 161 , 164 , 165 ].…”

Association of Healthy Diet with Recovery Time from COVID-19: Results from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

“…Studies have suggested that anxiety is common in the married population [66,67] as well as among divorced/widowed people [66,68]. Overall, the possibility that psychological health affects a person's immunity against infectious diseases such as COVID-19 cannot be dismissed [69,70].…”