The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Stress in Anesthesiology and Reanimation Specialists and Research Assistants
Abstract
Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the change in anxiety levels of anesthesiology and reanimation physicians who worked in the initialfight against the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Türkiye while trying to understand the factors affecting the change in anxiety.
Materials and Methods: An online survey of two parts was conducted between December 2020 and March 2021. The first part included questionsto identify the sociodemographic information, while the second part included the State-Trait Anxiety Scale Inventory.
Results: 19.2% (n=233) of 1210 anesthesiology and reanimation physicians responded to the questionnaire. The mean age of the partici pants was37.61±9.36, and the survey was mainly answered by research assistants (39.4%) and specialists (39.4%). A negative significant relationship was found between age and the State (p=0.001) and the Trait Anxiety Scale (p=0.017). The State-Trait Anxiety Scale scores among research assistants differed significantly from those of professors (p=0.043 and p=0.039, respectively). The State Anxiety Scale scores were also significantly higher in
participants in daily shifts than those who worked night shifts (p=0.011). The State-Trait Anxiety Scale scores of the participants living alone were significantly higher than those living with family and friends (p=0.003 and p=0.049, respectively).
Conclusion: Psychological care and treatment for anesthesiology and reanimation physicians, especially young research assistants and specialists living away from the support of their families during a pandemic becomes more important but is clearly neglected.
Key Words: Anesthesiologists, anxiety, COVID-19, pandemic, State-Trait Anxiety Scale survey
Keywords
Anesthesiologists, anxiety, COVID-19, pandemic, State-Trait Anxiety Scale survey
Ethical Statement
The study was approved by Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee with the decision number İ10-652-20 on 27/11/2020.
Informed Consent: Retrospective study.
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