Level of fear towards COVID-19 and its determinants among healthcare providers in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study
Introduction: Malaysia is one of the hardest-hit countries by COVID-19 in Asia. The rapidly rising number of cases had sparked fear among healthcare providers. This study aimed to assess the determinants of fear towards COVID-19 among healthcare providers in primary care settings. Methods: This onl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Malaysian Family Physician |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://e-mfp.org/wp-content/uploads/18.56.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797669499885846528 |
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| author | Siew Mooi Ching Ai Theng Cheong Anne Yee Ramayah Thurasamy Poh Ying Lim Irmi Zarina Ismail Nik Mazlina Mohammad Bee Kiau Ho Jun Ying Ng Siow Foon Tan Zienna Zufida Zainol Rashid Sathya Rao Jogulu Kai Wei Lee Sri Wahyu Taher |
| author_facet | Siew Mooi Ching Ai Theng Cheong Anne Yee Ramayah Thurasamy Poh Ying Lim Irmi Zarina Ismail Nik Mazlina Mohammad Bee Kiau Ho Jun Ying Ng Siow Foon Tan Zienna Zufida Zainol Rashid Sathya Rao Jogulu Kai Wei Lee Sri Wahyu Taher |
| author_sort | Siew Mooi Ching |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Malaysia is one of the hardest-hit countries by COVID-19 in Asia. The rapidly rising number of cases had sparked fear among healthcare providers. This study aimed to assess the determinants of fear towards COVID-19 among healthcare providers in primary care settings.
Methods: This online-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1280 healthcare providers aged ≥18 years from 30 primary care clinics in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale was used to assess the level of fear, and the results were analysed using multiple linear regression.
Results: The mean age of the respondents was 36 years, and the mean working experience was 11 years. The majority of the respondents were women (82.4%) and Malays (82.3%). The factors that were significantly correlated with higher levels of fear were underlying chronic disease (ß=1.12, P=0.002, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.08, 3.15), concern about mortality from COVID-19 (ß=3.3, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.19, 7.22), higher risk of exposure (ß=0.8, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.14, 5.91), concern for self at work (ß=2.8, P=0.002, 95% CI=0.08, 3.10) and work as a nurse (ß=3.6, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.30, 7.52), medical laboratory worker (ß=3.0, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.12, 4.27) and healthcare assistant (ß=3.9, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.17, 5.73). The level of fear was inversely correlated with a higher work-related stress management score (ß=−0.9, P<0.001, 95% CI=−0.14, −5.07) and a higher sleep quality score (ß=−1.8, P<0.001, 95% CI=−0.28, −10.41).
Conclusion: Family physicians should be vigilant and identify healthcare providers at risk of developing COVID-19-related fear to initiate early mental health intervention. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:45:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54bb3f842a294d9d82678287de5b2499 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1985-207X 1985-2274 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:45:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaysian Family Physician |
| spelling | doaj.art-54bb3f842a294d9d82678287de5b24992023-10-01T12:05:08ZengAcademy of Family Physicians of MalaysiaMalaysian Family Physician1985-207X1985-22742023-09-01185610.51866/oa.238Level of fear towards COVID-19 and its determinants among healthcare providers in Malaysia: A cross-sectional studySiew Mooi ChingAi Theng CheongAnne YeeRamayah ThurasamyPoh Ying LimIrmi Zarina IsmailNik Mazlina MohammadBee Kiau HoJun Ying NgSiow Foon TanZienna Zufida Zainol RashidSathya Rao JoguluKai Wei LeeSri Wahyu TaherIntroduction: Malaysia is one of the hardest-hit countries by COVID-19 in Asia. The rapidly rising number of cases had sparked fear among healthcare providers. This study aimed to assess the determinants of fear towards COVID-19 among healthcare providers in primary care settings. Methods: This online-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1280 healthcare providers aged ≥18 years from 30 primary care clinics in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale was used to assess the level of fear, and the results were analysed using multiple linear regression. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 36 years, and the mean working experience was 11 years. The majority of the respondents were women (82.4%) and Malays (82.3%). The factors that were significantly correlated with higher levels of fear were underlying chronic disease (ß=1.12, P=0.002, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.08, 3.15), concern about mortality from COVID-19 (ß=3.3, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.19, 7.22), higher risk of exposure (ß=0.8, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.14, 5.91), concern for self at work (ß=2.8, P=0.002, 95% CI=0.08, 3.10) and work as a nurse (ß=3.6, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.30, 7.52), medical laboratory worker (ß=3.0, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.12, 4.27) and healthcare assistant (ß=3.9, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.17, 5.73). The level of fear was inversely correlated with a higher work-related stress management score (ß=−0.9, P<0.001, 95% CI=−0.14, −5.07) and a higher sleep quality score (ß=−1.8, P<0.001, 95% CI=−0.28, −10.41). Conclusion: Family physicians should be vigilant and identify healthcare providers at risk of developing COVID-19-related fear to initiate early mental health intervention.https://e-mfp.org/wp-content/uploads/18.56.pdffearcovid-19medical assistantdoctormalaysia |
| spellingShingle | Siew Mooi Ching Ai Theng Cheong Anne Yee Ramayah Thurasamy Poh Ying Lim Irmi Zarina Ismail Nik Mazlina Mohammad Bee Kiau Ho Jun Ying Ng Siow Foon Tan Zienna Zufida Zainol Rashid Sathya Rao Jogulu Kai Wei Lee Sri Wahyu Taher Level of fear towards COVID-19 and its determinants among healthcare providers in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study Malaysian Family Physician fear covid-19 medical assistant doctor malaysia |
| title | Level of fear towards COVID-19 and its determinants among healthcare providers in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Level of fear towards COVID-19 and its determinants among healthcare providers in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Level of fear towards COVID-19 and its determinants among healthcare providers in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Level of fear towards COVID-19 and its determinants among healthcare providers in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Level of fear towards COVID-19 and its determinants among healthcare providers in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | level of fear towards covid 19 and its determinants among healthcare providers in malaysia a cross sectional study |
| topic | fear covid-19 medical assistant doctor malaysia |
| url | https://e-mfp.org/wp-content/uploads/18.56.pdf |
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