The assessment and validation of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) among frontline doctors in Pakistan during fifth wave of COVID-19
ObjectiveThe study aims to document sociodemographic features, address the symptoms and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among frontline doctors in Pakistan, and validate the depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS-21) on the context of Pakistan.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1192733/full |
| _version_ | 1797802955804508160 |
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| author | Muhammad Umar Nadeem Steve J. Kulich Ijaz Hussain Bokhari |
| author_facet | Muhammad Umar Nadeem Steve J. Kulich Ijaz Hussain Bokhari |
| author_sort | Muhammad Umar Nadeem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveThe study aims to document sociodemographic features, address the symptoms and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among frontline doctors in Pakistan, and validate the depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS-21) on the context of Pakistan.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted throughout the regions of Pakistan on frontline doctors to document their sociodemographic patterns and the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress while dealing with the fifth wave (Omicron-variant) of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in Pakistan (December 2021–April 2022). Respondents (N = 319) were recruited through a snowball sampling process.ResultsThough previous literature reported declines in psychological symptoms after earlier waves of COVID-19, these DASS-21 findings show that as the pandemic has worn on, frontline doctors in Pakistan are having considerable personal symptoms of depression (72.7%), anxiety (70.2%), and stress (58.3%). Though specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic, they rated only moderate levels of depression and stress, however they reported severe levels of anxiety. The results also revealed a positive correlation between depression and anxiety (r = 0.696, p < 0.001), depression and stress (r = 0.761, p < 0.001), and anxiety and stress (r = 0.720, p < 0.001).ConclusionThrough the application of all required statistical procedures, DASS-21 is validated in the cultural context of Pakistan among this group of frontline doctors. The findings of this study can provide new directions for the policy makers (government and hospitals' administration) of Pakistan to focus on the mental wellbeing of the doctors under similar enduring public health crises and to protect them from short- or long-term disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:13:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e51faa74f63b4d5fba8261dc5fdde5c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:13:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e51faa74f63b4d5fba8261dc5fdde5c82023-06-16T04:36:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-06-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.11927331192733The assessment and validation of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) among frontline doctors in Pakistan during fifth wave of COVID-19Muhammad Umar Nadeem0Steve J. Kulich1Ijaz Hussain Bokhari2SISU Intercultural Institute (SII), Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), Shanghai, ChinaSISU Intercultural Institute (SII), Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Commerce and Accountancy, University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore, Punjab, PakistanObjectiveThe study aims to document sociodemographic features, address the symptoms and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among frontline doctors in Pakistan, and validate the depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS-21) on the context of Pakistan.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted throughout the regions of Pakistan on frontline doctors to document their sociodemographic patterns and the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress while dealing with the fifth wave (Omicron-variant) of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in Pakistan (December 2021–April 2022). Respondents (N = 319) were recruited through a snowball sampling process.ResultsThough previous literature reported declines in psychological symptoms after earlier waves of COVID-19, these DASS-21 findings show that as the pandemic has worn on, frontline doctors in Pakistan are having considerable personal symptoms of depression (72.7%), anxiety (70.2%), and stress (58.3%). Though specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic, they rated only moderate levels of depression and stress, however they reported severe levels of anxiety. The results also revealed a positive correlation between depression and anxiety (r = 0.696, p < 0.001), depression and stress (r = 0.761, p < 0.001), and anxiety and stress (r = 0.720, p < 0.001).ConclusionThrough the application of all required statistical procedures, DASS-21 is validated in the cultural context of Pakistan among this group of frontline doctors. The findings of this study can provide new directions for the policy makers (government and hospitals' administration) of Pakistan to focus on the mental wellbeing of the doctors under similar enduring public health crises and to protect them from short- or long-term disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1192733/fullCOVID-19depressionanxietystressdoctorsPakistan |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Umar Nadeem Steve J. Kulich Ijaz Hussain Bokhari The assessment and validation of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) among frontline doctors in Pakistan during fifth wave of COVID-19 Frontiers in Public Health COVID-19 depression anxiety stress doctors Pakistan |
| title | The assessment and validation of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) among frontline doctors in Pakistan during fifth wave of COVID-19 |
| title_full | The assessment and validation of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) among frontline doctors in Pakistan during fifth wave of COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | The assessment and validation of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) among frontline doctors in Pakistan during fifth wave of COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The assessment and validation of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) among frontline doctors in Pakistan during fifth wave of COVID-19 |
| title_short | The assessment and validation of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) among frontline doctors in Pakistan during fifth wave of COVID-19 |
| title_sort | assessment and validation of the depression anxiety and stress scale dass 21 among frontline doctors in pakistan during fifth wave of covid 19 |
| topic | COVID-19 depression anxiety stress doctors Pakistan |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1192733/full |
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