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COVID-19 Psychological Impact on Health Care Workers in Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Hasan S. Alamri

    (Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 62527, Saudi Arabia)

  • Wesam F. Mousa

    (College of Medicine, University of Tanta, Tanta 31512, Egypt)

  • Abdullah Algarni

    (Ministry of Health, Abha 62523, Saudi Arabia)

  • Shehata F. Megahid

    (Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
    Biostatistics Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, 65 Garidet St., El Horeya Rd., El Shatby, Alexandria 21526, Egypt)

  • Ali Al Bshabshe

    (Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 62527, Saudi Arabia)

  • Nada N. Alshehri

    (Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 62527, Saudi Arabia)

  • Awad Alsamghan

    (Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia)

  • Abdullah Alsabaani

    (Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia)

  • Rasha T. Mirdad

    (Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Mushait 62413, Saudi Arabia)

  • Asrar M. Alshahrani

    (King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia)

  • Alya A. Gadah

    (King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh 14611, Saudi Arabia)

  • Almah A. Alshehri

    (Ministry of Health, Abha 62523, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Objective: Little is known about the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) among the health care workers in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 among the health care workers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May till mid-July among 389 health care workers from government and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a pre-structured online questionnaire that measured adverse psychological outcomes, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. The Pearson chi-square test was used to assess the distribution of depression and anxiety among health care workers. Results: A high level of anxiety was recorded among the health care workers, and 69.3% of health care workers below the age of 40 were found to have depression. There was a significant increase in depression among staff with chronic health problems (72.1% vs. 61.9%; p = 0.048). High anxiety levels were detected among young staff compared to others (68.7% vs. 43.8%; p = 0.001). Moreover, 82.1% of the female staff were anxious, as compared to 55.6% of the males ( p = 0.001). Conclusions: We found increased prevalence of adverse psychological outcomes among the health care workers in Saudi Arabia during the outbreak of COVID-19. Therefore, there is a need for proper screening and development of corresponding preventive measures to decrease the adverse psychological outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Hasan S. Alamri & Wesam F. Mousa & Abdullah Algarni & Shehata F. Megahid & Ali Al Bshabshe & Nada N. Alshehri & Awad Alsamghan & Abdullah Alsabaani & Rasha T. Mirdad & Asrar M. Alshahrani & Alya A. Ga, 2021. "COVID-19 Psychological Impact on Health Care Workers in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:6076-:d:569056
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xiaofei Li & Lili Guan & Hui Chang & Bo Zhang, 2014. "Core Self-Evaluation and Burnout among Nurses: The Mediating Role of Coping Styles," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(12), pages 1-12, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mohamad-Hani Temsah & Shuliweeh Alenezi & Mohammed Alarabi & Fadi Aljamaan & Khalid Alhasan & Rasha Assiri & Rolan Bassrawi & Fatimah Alshahrani & Ali Alhaboob & Ali Alaraj & Nasser S. Alharbi & Abdul, 2022. "Healthcare Workers’ SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Uncertainty-Related Stress, Resilience, and Coping Strategies during the First Week of the World Health Organization’s Alert," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-19, February.

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