Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Level in Healthcare Professionals During the Covid-19 Outbreak: A Case of Tepecik Hospital

Abstract

Objective: This study takes priority over Covid-19, the current pandemic that affects life deeply in every aspect. Covid-19 outbreak started in December 2019. İn Wuhan City which is the capital of China’s Hubei region. On 11 March 2020, the outbreak was declared as a “pandemic”. The outbreak may have inevitably created a death anxiety in all of us. Especially for healthcare workers in the risk group. The health sector is considered as one of the most risky line of work. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the literature by analyzing the level of anxiety experienced by Healthcare Professionals, who are at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19, and the variables associated with it. Method: The research was carried out with a questionnaire applied to healthcare personnel who can be reached at Tepecik Training and Research Hospital in 2020 while the pandemic continues. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-STAI developed by Spielberger was used to measure the level of anxiety in the research. Results: When state and trait anxiety scores are evaluated in the whole group; The mean state anxiety score was 44.17±4.97 (95% CI: 43.12-45.21). The mean trait anxiety score was 44.16±5.88 (95% CI: 43.14-45.18). In the research, significant differences were found among the independent variables affecting the level of anxiety, gender, marital status, status of having children, whether there was direct contact with the patient with Covid, duration of contact, and groups. Contributions were made to the literature by making comments on other variables. Conclusion: It is recommended that planning the rest needs of healthcare personnel, creating working and resting environments that will ensure that not only the risk of contamination, but also other risk factors due to insomnia and fatigue are planned, and supportive administrative studies are carried out to reduce the stress and anxiety levels.