Mental health, risk perception, and coping strategies among healthcare workers in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease-19 emerged in December 2019. Healthcare workers were exposed to this highly infectious virus during the pandemic and suffered several social and psychological consequences, such as anxiety, psychological distress, and burnout. Objectives To assess the psychological distress, anxiety, depression, coping strategies, risk perception, and attitude toward interprofessional teamwork among Egyptian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional online survey which consisted of five sections. The primary outcomes were anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), risk perception towards COVID-19, interprofessional teamwork attitude, and coping strategies during the Coronavirus disease-19 pandemic. The web-based questionnaire was distributed to Egyptian healthcare workers from the 20th of April 2020 to the 20th of May 2020. A snowball sampling method was used. Regression analysis was conducted to test the relationship between the socioeconomic characteristics and the previously mentioned outcomes. Results A total of 403 participants responded to the online questionnaire. The majority were females (70.5%) and within the age group of 26–40 years (77.7%), with 2–5 years of work experience (43.2%). Most participants were pharmacists (33%) and physicians (22.1%). Eighty-two participants (21%) reported moderate to severe anxiety, and 79 participants reported (19.4%) moderate to severe depressive symptoms. In the univariate model, the marital status was associated with depression (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.28–0.78), anxiety (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.85), and an attitude toward interprofessional teamwork (β = -1.96 95% CI -2.72 to -1.2). Providing direct care to the patients was associated with lower anxiety symptoms (AOR 0.256, 95% CI 0.094–0.697). More severe anxiety and depressive symptoms were associated with difficulties in everyday life and the professional work environment (AOR 4.246 and 3.3, P = 0.003 and 0.01, respectively). Availability of mental health facilities at the workplace was associated with a lower risk perception towards COVID-19 (β = -0.79, 95% CI -1.24 to -0.34) and a more positive attitude towards teamwork (β = 2.77 95% CI 1.38–4.15). Conclusions According to our results, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with mild anxiety and depression among healthcare workers in Egypt, especially pharmacists and physicians. We recommend more research targeting the mental health of healthcare workers in Egypt. If proven cost-effective and needed, wide-scale mental health screening and public health campaigns can facilitate effective prevention and treatment strategies. In addition, the availability of mental health facilities at the workplace could alleviate some of the risk perception associated with health emergencies and improve interprofessional teamwork.

The prevalence and associated factors of job burnout among medical workers at COVID-19 vaccination sites: A cross-sectional study

“…According to our results, from the perspective of medical workers, they are advised to seek mental health screening 43 . Additionally, attending health campaigns such as mindfulness-based stress practice and small-group programs may also be affective 6 .…”

Impact of COVID-19 first wave on the mental health of healthcare workers in a Front-Line Spanish Tertiary Hospital: lessons learned

“…Sociodemographic factors, such as gender and age have been previously related to a higher risk 38 . Female sex has been associated with a increased risk of mental disorders in several studies analyzing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of HCWs 43 – 47 . A recent meta-analysis conducted by Lee and colleagues including 401 studies, has reported higher odds of probable mental health disorders in women, in particular depression, anxiety, PTSD and insomnia 48 .…”

High stress related to COVID-19 among health workers in the Plateau Central healthcare region (BURKINA FASO): a cross-sectional study

“…This stress is increased due to their pre-existing limited access and resources, imposed by the colonial system, and their management of the new coronavirus, in certain vulnerable subgroups (health care workers) who are likely to require psychological interventions). Indeed significant associations were observed between attitude toward interprofessional teamwork, gender, marital status, occupation, work experience, current work location (clinics), spiritual influences, perceived competence, difficulties in daily life, income level, confidence in individual instincts, level of control over aspects of resilience, provision of COVID-19 patient care, history of COVID-19 testing, history of COVID-19 testing or infection, and availability of mental health support in the workplace ( 7 , 8 , 14 , 16 , 19 , 24 – 28 , 48 ).…”

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“…Studies of hospital staff in Europe, Asia and North America have found that caregivers involved in the care of COVID-19 positive patients have moderate to severe anxiety manifestations related to the infection itself, and to the fear of contamination of close contacts ( 7 , 8 , 14 , 16 , 19 , 21 – 28 ).…”