COVID-19 Induced Anxiety among Health Care Professionals

Objective: To evaluate the stress level among doctors and nurses during COVID-19 crises. Study design: Descriptive correlational study Place and duration of study: Department of Medicine & Critical Care, Services Hospital Lahore and Bahria International Hospital, Lahore from 1st May 2020 to 31st July 2020 Methodology: Descriptive correlational study design to evaluate the stress level among doctors and nurses. A couple of other factors were also identified like lack of personal protective equipment's (PPEs) and family pressure to quite job along with COVID-19 stress. Two groups were substituted one with exposure of COVID-19 and other without its exposure. The internal review board and ethical committee of Bahria International Hospital, Lahore, approved the study. Questionnaire was collected after proper informed consent from health professionals working at COVID management units at Services Hospital Lahore and Bahria International Hospital Lahore. Chi-Square test and Odd ratios were calculated among the stated groups of doctors and nurses. Results: Statistical analysis among the groups of doctors and nurses exposed and not exposed shows significant higher levels of anxiety in doctors and nurses who were involved in management of COVID-19 patients directly as compared to those who were not. Similarly, the level of risks increased almost double in the exposed healthcare workers. Availability of personal protective equipment and pressure from the families to quit the job also plays significant role in elevating of anxiety levels. Conclusion: Study concludes that anxiety increases in the health care professionals due to lack of robust systems to cope up with the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors like stress from family, lack of proper protective equipment leads to fear of being infected and taking the infection to their loved ones. It is responsibility of management of health care set ups to ensure the availability of PPEs and making a robust system of infection control to help combat the pandemic.