Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as an expected source of stress and anxiety as the healthcare workers had to work for long hours in close contact with infected patients, thus increasing the probability of medical errors and threatening the patients’ safety. This study aims to measu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Annals of General Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-023-00470-1 |
| _version_ | 1797451926164471808 |
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| author | Hasan Nabil Al Houri Abdullah Alhouri Douaa Mohammad Nazir Arrouk Ahmad Nabil Al Houri Sami Jomaa Alaa Sharabi Hussein Kannout Youssef Latifeh |
| author_facet | Hasan Nabil Al Houri Abdullah Alhouri Douaa Mohammad Nazir Arrouk Ahmad Nabil Al Houri Sami Jomaa Alaa Sharabi Hussein Kannout Youssef Latifeh |
| author_sort | Hasan Nabil Al Houri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as an expected source of stress and anxiety as the healthcare workers had to work for long hours in close contact with infected patients, thus increasing the probability of medical errors and threatening the patients’ safety. This study aims to measure the levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress among Syrian healthcare workers and their quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in six central hospitals in Damascus, Syria. Data were collected from 1 to 30 June—2021. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale—21 (DASS-21) was used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers. Quality of life was assessed using the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index. Results A total of 700 participants were included in this study. 61.6% (n = 431) were males and 38.4% (n = 269) were females. Younger ages (18–29 years old) were significantly associated with higher levels of depression and stress (p < 0.0083). Female healthcare workers had higher significant levels of anxiety (p < 0.05). Significant anxiety and stress levels were reported when healthcare workers had contact with COVID-19 patients, even if they had protective equipment (p < 0.05). Half of the participants (50%; n = 349) reported a good quality of life. Conclusion Stress levels and depressive symptoms were remarkably higher in healthcare workers of ages 18 and 29 years old, whereas anxiety levels were significantly higher and more severe in female healthcare workers. Moreover, direct interaction with COVID-19 patients was associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety symptoms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:01:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb44f933058c4120ad39c612864f9b9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1744-859X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:01:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of General Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb44f933058c4120ad39c612864f9b9e2023-11-26T13:55:12ZengBMCAnnals of General Psychiatry1744-859X2023-10-0122111110.1186/s12991-023-00470-1Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center studyHasan Nabil Al Houri0Abdullah Alhouri1Douaa Mohammad Nazir Arrouk2Ahmad Nabil Al Houri3Sami Jomaa4Alaa Sharabi5Hussein Kannout6Youssef Latifeh7Internal Medicine Department, Damascus UniversityDivision of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, Nevill Hall Hospital, Aneurin Bevan University Health BoardApplied Statistics – Quantitative Methods, Damascus UniversityDiagnostic Radiology Department, Damascus UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Damascus UniversitySomaerian HealthCenter for Biotechnology, Khalifa UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Damascus UniversityAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as an expected source of stress and anxiety as the healthcare workers had to work for long hours in close contact with infected patients, thus increasing the probability of medical errors and threatening the patients’ safety. This study aims to measure the levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress among Syrian healthcare workers and their quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in six central hospitals in Damascus, Syria. Data were collected from 1 to 30 June—2021. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale—21 (DASS-21) was used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers. Quality of life was assessed using the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index. Results A total of 700 participants were included in this study. 61.6% (n = 431) were males and 38.4% (n = 269) were females. Younger ages (18–29 years old) were significantly associated with higher levels of depression and stress (p < 0.0083). Female healthcare workers had higher significant levels of anxiety (p < 0.05). Significant anxiety and stress levels were reported when healthcare workers had contact with COVID-19 patients, even if they had protective equipment (p < 0.05). Half of the participants (50%; n = 349) reported a good quality of life. Conclusion Stress levels and depressive symptoms were remarkably higher in healthcare workers of ages 18 and 29 years old, whereas anxiety levels were significantly higher and more severe in female healthcare workers. Moreover, direct interaction with COVID-19 patients was associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety symptoms.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-023-00470-1DepressionAnxietyStressHealthcare workersSyria |
| spellingShingle | Hasan Nabil Al Houri Abdullah Alhouri Douaa Mohammad Nazir Arrouk Ahmad Nabil Al Houri Sami Jomaa Alaa Sharabi Hussein Kannout Youssef Latifeh Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study Annals of General Psychiatry Depression Anxiety Stress Healthcare workers Syria |
| title | Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study |
| title_full | Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study |
| title_fullStr | Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study |
| title_short | Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study |
| title_sort | stress depression anxiety and quality of life among the healthcare workers during covid 19 pandemic in syria a multi center study |
| topic | Depression Anxiety Stress Healthcare workers Syria |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-023-00470-1 |
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