Psychological Effects of the Outbreak of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers in Iran

Abstract

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed healthcare workers to heavy stress and made them vulnerable to various types of mental illnesses. This study aims to evaluate the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers in the COVID-19 ward. Methods: This study was performed during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 9-Dey Hospital of Torbat Heydarieh in Iran, in which a total of 178 healthcare workers in the COVID-19 ward participated via the census sampling method. In this study, we employed the Goldberg general health questionnaire along with a researchermade questionnaire on the experience of exposure to COVID-19 disease. Following the completion of the questionnaires, the participants’ data were analyzed by the SPSS software and statistical tests (the Spearman and Pearson correlations). Results: Our results showed 91.1, 77.57, 87.55, 87.07, 56.75, and 74.16 for the general health, physical symptoms, anxiety symptoms, sleep disorders, social dysfunction, and depression symptoms, respectively, during the COVID-19 pandemic conditions. The results showed a significant association between the experience of exposure to COVID-19, anxiety symptoms, and sleep disorders (P<0.05). Discussion: Access to counseling and psychotherapy systems, rehabilitation, and the improvement of working conditions can effectively enhance resilience and promote the mental health of healthcare workers and increase the quality of care and treatment services. Highlights • The total general health score for all the participants during the COVID-19 condition was 44.07±1.54, indicating the mild general health of the study population, or in other words, the abnormal general health score. • The Spearman correlation test showed a significant association between the work ward, the total general health score, physical symptoms, and symptoms of anxiety and depression (P<0.05). Also, a significant association was observed between anxiety symptoms, sleep disorders, and the experience of exposure to COVID-19 (P<0.05). • The results of the Pearson correlation coefficient between physical health, its components, and the risk perception in the face of COVID-19 showed a significant association between all components of general health and the risk perception in the face of this disease (P<0.05). Plain Language Summary Given the high prevalence of COVID-19 worldwide and the rate of deaths because of this disease, healthcare workers are more prone to psychological disorders and anxiety than others. This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on 178 healthcare workers of 9-Dey Hospital in Torbat-e Heydariyeh, Iran. The participants were selected by the census sampling method. Only one questionnaire could be completed by each participant. The questionnaire consisted of three parts, including demographic information, occupational exposure to COVID-19, and the general health questionnaire. We first analyzed the experience of exposure to COVID-19. Then, the variance test analysis was used to determine the association between age, work experience, and general health and its components. The Pearson correlation test was used to investigate the association between the perceived risk of exposure to COVID-19 and general health. The Spearman correlation test was also used to determine the correlation between marital status, organizational positions, gender, work wards, and general health and its components. © 2022,Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. All Rights Reserved.