Mental health status of health-care professionals working in quarantine and non-quarantine egyptian hospitals during the covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: Variable models of care have been adopted in different countries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Egypt has assigned certain hospitals specifically for the quarantine of COVID-19 patients, where operational medical teams work continuously for 14 days, after which they are released for self-isolation at home for a similar period. Aims: The study aimed to evaluate and compare perceived adverse psychological symptoms (stress, anxiety, depression), and insomnia by health-care professionals working in quarantine and non-quarantine hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt, and to explore associated factors with adverse psychological symptoms and insomnia. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was performed in April 2020, using a snowball sampling method. Sociodemo-graphic information perceived general health, healthy lifestyle, insomnia (using Insomnia Severity Index), adverse psychological symptoms (using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21), worries and concerns about COVID-19, future perspective about COVID-19, and coping strategies were collected. Results: Five hundred and forty health-care professionals participated; 10.2% (n=55) worked in quarantine hospitals. Younger age (ORa=0.96, 95% CI:0.93–0.99, ORa=0.95; 95% CI:0.92–0.97; ORa=0.96 CI:0.93–0.99), being not ready/sure of readiness to work in quarantine hospital (ORa=1.91, 95% CI:1.22–3.00; ORa=2.01, 95% CI:1.28–3.15; ORa=1.91, 95% CI:1.22– 2.98), and insomnia (ORa=5.22, 95% CI:3.38–8.05; ORa=7.58, 95% CI:4.91–11.68; ORa=6.38 95% CI:4.19–9.73) significantly predicted stress, depression and anxiety, respectively. Being female (ORa=1.59, 95% CI:1.04–2.42; ORa=2.09, 95% CI:1.38– 3.16) could also significantly predict stress and anxiety. Conclusion: Female and younger age health care professionals were more prone to report adverse psychological symp-toms. More and earlier screening for health-care professionals dealing with COVID-19, in addition to providing psychological support, is highly encouraged.