The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Perceived Stress, State and Trait Anxiety and Work-Related Strain in Healthcare Professionals

Objective: In Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), as in all pandemics, employees are the human force fighting against the disease at the forefront, and they face the risk of infection for themselves and their relatives during this struggle. In this study, it was aimed to determine the stress, anxiety and work-related strain levels of healthcare employees dealing with the treatment of infected patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors affecting these levels.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in Karadeniz Technical University Farabi Hospital. Healthcare employees who were deemed to be at high/low risk in terms of Covid-19 transmission were included in the study. Perceived stress scale (PSS), state and trait anxiety inventory (STAI-S, STAI-T), and work-related strain inventory (WRSI) were used.Results: Stress,anxiety and work-related strain levels were high in the high-risk group.This difference was significant in PSS (p=0.000). Stress, anxiety and work-related strain levels of those working in the high and low-risk work areas and who weren't satisfied with their work were higher.This difference was significant according to WRSI (p=0.000). Stress, anxiety and work-related strain levels of men were higher in high-risk group and women in low-risk group. In high-risk group, this difference was found to be statistically significant according to the STAI-S (p=0.048), in low-risk group this difference was statistically significant according to PSS (p=0.004) and STAI-S (p=0.010).Conclusion: Increasing stress, anxiety and work-related strain levels with the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affect both healthcare professionals and healthcare services provided by healthcare professionals. Efforts, activities, and measures should be taken to improve and eliminate these negativities.