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The impact of the COVID pandemic on the attitude and mental health of healthcare professionals working in COVID departments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

O. Elleuch*
Affiliation:
Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Psychiatry C, Sfax, Tunisia
R. Feki
Affiliation:
Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Psychiatry, Sfax, Tunisia
I. Gassara
Affiliation:
Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Psychiatry, Sfax, Tunisia
N. Smaoui
Affiliation:
Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Psychiatry, Sfax, Tunisia
N. Charfi
Affiliation:
Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Psychiatry, Sfax, Tunisia
S. Omri
Affiliation:
Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Psychiatry, Sfax, Tunisia
M. Maalej
Affiliation:
Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Psychiatry, Sfax, Tunisia
J. Ben Thabet
Affiliation:
Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Psychiatry, Sfax, Tunisia
L. Zouari
Affiliation:
Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Psychiatry C, Sfax, Tunisia
M. Maalej
Affiliation:
Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Psychiatry, Sfax, Tunisia
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

The COVID pandemic brought an overwhelming impact on hospital systems and personnel in the world.

Objectives

Our study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID pandemic on the attitude and mental health of healthcare professionals working in COVID departments.

Methods

We included 23 healthcare professionals working in the COVID departments of the Hospitals of Sfax. Sociodemographic data, medical history and COVID related details were collected from the participants. Their mental health was assessed by the Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS).

Results

In our sample, 26.1% were men and 73.9% were women, they were aged from 26 to 52. They worked for 57 hours per week, including 27.38 hours of direct contact with COVID positive patients and 5.43 nightshifts per month. A rate of 52.2% of the participants claimed having enough protection tools and 13% confirmed having enough equipment for patient management. 30.4% feared the lack of equipment and 39.1% considered themselves trained enough to manage COVID patients. As for the protective measures, 95.7% reduced contact with family members, 30.4% stopped visiting their parents, 8.7% left the family house and 4.3% didn’t take any particular measure. The mean HADS depression score was 9.61, and 60.86% had a Depression score equal or greater than 8, indicating depression. As for the HADS Anxiety score, its mean was 10.61 and 69.56% had a score equal or greater than 8, indicating anxiety.

Conclusions

The pandemic had a big impact on healthcare professionals working in COVID departments, as shows the relatively high depression and anxiety rate.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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