A cross-sectional study of anxiety, depression, and stress among health-care workers managing COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care hospital in North India

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to identify the incidence of anxiety, depression, and stress in health-care workers managing COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care hospital in North India. Methodology: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted using Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Questionnaire (Google Form). All health-care workers (HCWs) of the hospital were included in the study. HCWs with a past or current history of psychiatric illness and on psychotropic medication were excluded from the study. Results: Two hundred and twenty HCWs answered the questionnaire, of whom 114 (51.8%) were female. Of the 220, 128 (58.2%) were single, 97 (44.1%) were physicians. Level one exposure (direct interaction with COVID-19 patients) was seen in 111 (55.5%). One hundred and thirty-three (60.5%) HCWs worked for 8–12 h/day. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the factors which need to be taken into consideration to protect the mental well-being of doctors while fighting with a disaster that has major impacts on society worldwide.

Keywords

• covid
• health workers
• psychological effects