Evaluation of Health Anxiety in Hospital Staff during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: At the time of disease outbreaks, hospital staff's mental health may be affected. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the level of health anxiety of employees in the corona referral hospital and non-referral hospital of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on staff working in Khorshid and Chamran hospitals in Isfahan City, Iran, during the year 2020. 380 participants were selected by a simple random sampling method. Health Anxiety Inventory-18 (HAI-18) anxiety questionnaire was used to measure health anxiety in addition to questions related to demographic characteristics of the employees. The short form of this questionnaire has 18 questions and assesses health-related concerns, emotions or bodily changes, and the dire consequences of contracting a disease. Findings: The mean anxiety score was statistically higher in women staff than men, in those with underlying disease than staff without it, in non-physician staff than physicians, and in hospital admitting patients with COVID-19 than non-accepting one. Conclusion: During COVID-19 pandemic, the mean anxiety score was higher among women staff, non-physician staff, and staff of hospitals admitting patients with COVID-19. © 2022 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.