Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Anxiety And Depression Levels Of The Dialysis Center Employees

Abstract

Objective: Coronavirus (COVID-19), an acute respiratory tract disease caused by a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, formerly known as 2019-nCoV), first emerged in China and then drew attention spreading worldwide. In our study we aimed to determine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the dialysis center employees. Methods: The healthcare professionals to take part in the study were limited to the dialysis center employees. The study used a questionnaire comprising the participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory, asdata collection tool. The participants completed the questionnaire on voluntary basis in their own environment. As the Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory are grading inventories, their validity was confirmed via factor analyses. In addition their reliability analyses were conducted. In order to test the purposes of the study, the SPSS statistics software was used. The analyses were carried out at 95% (p=0.05) confidence interval. The study used descriptive statistical methods, t and ANOVA tests and correlation analysis. Results: Among the participants;54.4% are female and 79.4% are aged 26 to 49 years. 51% of the participants have encountered patients with covid, 41.2% have served patients with covid, 22.1% had covid test and tested negative. 55.9% of the participants have developed no anxiety symptoms, while 24% havedeveloped mild symptoms, 11.8% moderate symptoms and 8.3% severe symptoms. 59.3% of the participants have developed no depression symptoms, while 27.5% have developed mild symptoms, 11.3% moderate symptoms and 2% severe symptoms. It was determined that the participants’ gender, occupation (title), type of their hospital, state of encountering patients with covid and serving these patients, affected their anxiety and depression levels. Conclusion: A significant rate of anxiety and depression was determined in the healthcare professionals providing service in hemodialysis units during the Covid-19 pandemic. In all pandemics, it is necessary to carefully evaluate not only patients, but also healthcare professionals providing service to chronic patients and to take measures. Otherwise healthcare professionals who do not feel well, will not be able to provide effective service.