Emotional impact of covid-19 on medical and nursing staff in intensive care units

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly induced changes in many aspects of people’s lives in general, including changes in health behaviors, such as sleep, eating habits and physical exercise, but also in social relationships. High rates of psychological disturbance such as anxiety and depression, were observed among health care professionals, during pandemic. The aim of this study was to explore fear, trait anxiety and perceived vulnerability to disease that experience medical and nursing staff working in COVID-19 clinics and Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Material and Methods: In the present cross-sectional study were enrolled 111 doctors and nurses working in COVID-19 clinics and ICUs in public hospitals of Athens from March to June 2024. Data were collected by the completion of the scale fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S), the Trait Anxiety Inventory for adults (STAI) and the scale Self-perception of Vulnerability to Infectious Diseases Scale (PVDS) which includes the dimension of perceived infectability (PVD-Infection) and the dimension of germ aversion (PVD-Germ). The significance level was set at 0.05.
Results: Medical and nursing staff experience fear of low-intensity 21.5±10.4 (values range 7-49), trait anxiety of moderate-intensity 49,3±8,1 (values range 20-80) and moderate perceived vulnerability to disease 65.5±12.7 (values range 15-105). Higher disease fear was reported by nurse assistants (p=0.002) and those working in COVID clinics (p=0.037). Higher trait anxiety was reported by unmarried participants (p=0.002), nurse assistants (p=0.021), those having no children (p=0.036) and no postgraduate studies (p=0.022). In dimension PVD-Infection of PVDS, higher scores were observed by participants with a chronic health problem (p=0.005) while in the dimension PVD-Germ, by participants having 16-36 years of work experience (p=0.047). Conclusions: Medical and nursing staff experienced trait anxiety and disease perceived vulnerability of moderate intensity and fear of low intensity. Demographic, professional, and social factors are associated with the total score of each scale.

Key-words: Fear of COVID-19, Trait Anxiety, Vulnerability to Infectious Diseases