Investigation of COVID-19 Anxiety Levels of Emergency Workers

Abstract

Objective: The coronavirus pandemic has affected human and societal psychology worldwide. The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale is used to detect dysfunctional anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, our aim was to determine the anxiety levels of workers of the our emergency serrvices during the pandemic. Material Methods: The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale questionnaire was applied to emergency workers. According to the scores obtained from the questionnaire, the participants were divided into two groups: those with anxiety (Group 1) and those without anxiety (Group 2). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare two independent groups for continuous data, and Pearson’s chi-square test was used for frequency data. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Anxiety was present in 8.1% of the 285 worker who participated in the survey. The anxiety rate in female (12.8%) was statistically significantly higher than that of male (3.5%) (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of alcohol users and smokers (p>0.05). We did not detect any association between marital status or having children and anxiety (p>0.05). There was also no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of having previously contracted COVID-19, receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, to get psychiatric support before or during the pandemic, and having a deceased relative due to the pandemic. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety rate is 8.1% in emergency workers. Anxiety rates were higher in female, non-alcohol users and non-smokers during the pandemic.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• anxiety
• emergency workers

Acil Çalışanların COVİD-19 Anksiyete Düzeylerinin Araştırılması

Abstract

Amaç: Koronavirüs pandemisi dünya çapında insan ve toplum psikolojisini etkiledi. Koronavirüs Anksiyete Ölçeği, COVID-19 pandemisi ile ilgili işlevsel olmayan anksiyeteyi tespit etmek için kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada amacımız acil servis çalışanlarımızın pandemi dönemindeki anksiyete düzeylerini belirlemektir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Acil servis çalışanlarına Koronavirüs Anksiyete Ölçeği anketi uygulandı. Anketten alınan puanlara göre katılımcılar anksiyetesi olanlar (Grup 1) ve anksiyetesi olmayanlar (Grup 2) olmak üzere iki gruba ayrıldı. Sürekli veriler için iki bağımsız grubun karşılaştırılmasında Mann-Whitney U testi, frekans verileri için Pearson ki-kare testi kullanıldı. p <0,05 değeri istatistiksel olarak anlamlı kabul edildi. Bulgular: Ankete katılan 285 çalışanın %8,1’inde anksiyete mevcuttu. Kadınlarda anksiyete oranı (%12,8) erkeklere (%3,5) göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede yüksekti (p<0,05). Alkol kullananlar ve sigara kullananlar açısından gruplar arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark yoktu. (p>0,05). Medeni durum veya çocuk sahibi olma durumu ile anksiyete arasında ilişki saptamadık (p>0.05). Daha önce COVID-19 geçirmiş olma, COVID-19 aşısı olma, pandemi öncesi veya sırasında psikiyatrik destek alma ve pandemi nedeniyle vefat etmiş bir yakını olması açısından da gruplar arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark yoktu (p>0,05). Sonuç: COVID-19 pandemisi sırasında acil servis çalışanlarında anksiyete oranı %8,1’di. Pandemi döneminde kadınlarda, alkol kullanmayanlarda ve sigara içmeyenlerde kaygı oranları daha yüksekti.

Keywords

• Covid-19;
• anksiyete
• acil çalışanları

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