Original scientific paper
THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 OUTBREAK ON THE MENTAL STATUS OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
Sevgi Topal
; University of Health Sciences, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Izmir, Turkey
Onat Yilmaz
; University of Health Sciences, Ok Meydani Training and Research Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul, Turkey
Gokhan Ceylan
; University of Health Sciences, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Izmir, Turkey
Ozlem Sarac Sandal
; Sivas Cumhuriyet University of Medicine, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Sivas, Turkey
Utku Karaarslan
; University of Health Sciences, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Izmir, Turkey
Gulhan Atakul
; University of Health Sciences, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Izmir, Turkey
Mustafa Colak
; University of Health Sciences, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Izmir, Turkey
Ekin Soydan
; University of Health Sciences, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Izmir, Turkey
Pinar Seven
; University of Health Sciences, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Izmir, Turkey
Arzu Caliskan Polat
; University of Health Sciences, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Izmir, Turkey
Hasan Agin
; University of Health Sciences, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Izmir, Turkey
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may affect the mental status of health care professionals. The purpose of
our study is to evaluate the mental health effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on health care professionals in the pediatric intensive
care units (PICUs).
Subjects and methods: Our study was conducted prospectively between 01.04.20 and 10.04.20. The created questionnaire was
applied to health care professionals through online platforms. Thus it was involved in 5 different institutions that participated from
different regions of Turkey. With the questionnaire, we applied; the participants' age, gender, the general status of contamination
and the level of COVID-19 knowledge were questioned. Besides; Beck Anxiety Scale, Acute Stress Scale (PCL-5), STAI-1 and STAI-2
(State and Trait Anxiety Inventory 1-2) scales were used to determine the anxiety levels.
Results: A survey of 210 participants, 86 (41%) doctors, 124 (59%) nurses, were included in our study. When we evaluate the
Beck anxiety levels, the majority of the participants (44%) were normal, while about one third had mild anxiety. When we evaluated
the acute stress scale, all participants had a certain amount of stress levels. The majority (80 people each (38%)) experienced mild
and moderate acute stress. Being female and having chronic disease poses a high risk for anxiety (OR, 0.330; 95% CI, 0.087-1.250,
p <0.05 and OR, 0.246; 95% CI, 0.068-1.116, p<0.05), preoccupation (OR, 0.603; 95% CI 0.261-1.395, p<0.05 and OR, 0.433;
95% CI, 0.122-1.538, p<0.05) and acute stress (OR, 0.294; 95% CI, 0.033-2.649, p<0.05 and OR, 0.317; 95 % CI 0.060-1.679,
p<0.05). Professional definition, marital status and having a child do not pose any risk factors.
Conclusion: Our study has shown that the COVID-19 outbreak affects the mental status of health care professionals working at
PICU at various levels.
Keywords
acute stress scale; anxiety; COVID-19 outbreak; healthcare professionals
Hrčak ID:
272977
URI
Publication date:
8.2.2022.
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