COVID-19 Pandemisi Sürecinde Sağlık Çalışanlarının Sağlık Davranışları, Çalışma Koşulları ve Sosyal Yaşamlarının Algıladıkları Stres Düzeyine Etkisinin Değerlendirilmesi: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Abstract

ÖZ Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı COVID-19 salgını sırasında sağlık çalışanlarının algıladıkları stres düzeyini etkileyen faktörleri belirlemektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Kesitsel tipteki bu çalışma 223 sağlık çalışanı ile yapılmıştır. Veriler Ekim 2020 ile Şubat 2021 arasında elektronik anketler aracılığıyla elde edilmiştir. Bulgular: Sağlık çalışanlarının %40,8'i (91) kadındır ve yaş ortalamaları 39.39±8.92'dir. Bazı sosyodemografik özellikler algılanan stresi etkilemiştir. Katılımcılar COVID-19'dan korunmak için beslenmelerine (%72.2, n=161), uyku düzenlerine (%36.8, n=82) ve fiziksel aktivitelerine (%22.9, n=51) dikkat ettiklerini belirtmişlerdir. COVID-19 hastalarına bakanlar, cerrahi ünitelerde çalışanlar, çalışma saatleri ve yerleri değiştirilenler, COVID-19 ile ilgili alanda isteksizce çalışanlar ve ekip arkadaşı COVID-19 tedavisi alanların algılanan stres düzeyleri daha yüksektir. COVID-19 ünitelerinde çalışırken karşılaşılan en yaygın zorluklar kişisel koruyucu ekipmanı (KKE) giyme ve çıkarma zorluğu, KKE nedeniyle terleme, kızarıklık, yaralar ve ödem gibi durumlardır. Sonuç: Sağlık çalışanlarının risk ve stres altında oldukları, iş verenler tarafından çalışanın stres düzeyinin değerlendirilmesi gerektiği, buna yönelik pratik ve döngü içinde sahada kullanılabilir ölçüm araçlarının geliştirilmesi, uygunsuz destek ürünlerinin kullanılmaması, sağlıklı yaşam biçimi davranışları hususunda başta hemşireler olmakla birlikte tüm çalışanların bu konuda eğitilmesi ve kurumsal politikalar oluşturulması ve daha kapsamlı çalışmaların yapılması faydalı olacaktır.

Keywords

• İş sağlığı
• COVID-19 pandemisi
• Algılanan stres
• Sağlık çalışanları
• Sağlık davranışları
• Çalışma koşulları
• Sosyal yaşam
• Kişisel koruyucu ekipman

Assessment of the Impact of Healthcare Professionals' Health Behaviors, Working Conditions, and Social Life on Their Perceived Stress Levels During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of our study is to determine the possible factors that affected the level of stress perceived by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 223 healthcare professionals. The study data were obtained via electronic questionnaires between October 2020 and February 2021. Results: Of the healthcare professionals, 40.8% (91) were female; their mean age was 39.39±8.92. Some sociodemographic characteristics affected perceived stress. The participants stated that they paid attention to their nutrition (72.2%, n=161), sleep patterns (36.8%, n=82), and physical activities (22.9%, n=51) to protect themselves from COVID-19. We identified those with higher levels of perceived stress as those who looked after COVID-19 patients, those who worked in surgical units, those who had a change in their working hours and locations, those who worked on the COVID-19 frontlines reluctantly, and those whose teammates were receiving COVID-19 treatment. The most common difficulties encountered while working in COVID-19 units were putting on and taking off personal protective equipment (PPE), experiencing heavy sweating because of the PPE, and other conditions such as redness, sores, and edema. Conclusion: It is evident that healthcare professionals work under risk and stress, highlighting the necessity for employers to assess employees' stress levels. Developing practical and field-applicable measurement tools for continuous assessment, avoiding the use of inappropriate supportive products, and providing education on healthy lifestyle behaviors—particularly for nurses but also for all healthcare workers—are essential. Additionally, the establishment of institutional policies and the conduction of more comprehensive studies would be beneficial.

Keywords

• Occupational health
• COVID-19 pandemic
• Perceived stress
• Healthcare professionals
• Health Behaviors
• Working conditions
• Social live
• Personal protective equipment

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