DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS LEVEL DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN PATHOLOGISTS WORKING IN TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTRES OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the level of depression, anxiety and stress in pathologists due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: It was a Cross-sectional Analytical Multicenter Questionnaire-based study conducted from April 2020 to June 2020 including Pathologists working in Khyber Teaching Hospital and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islam-abad. Informed written consent was obtained and DASS-21 Questionnaire was administered. Data were analysed by SPSS. Levels of depression, anxiety and stress were determined and analysed by multiple regression mothod to predict depression anxiety and stress levels from demographics. Results: Mean age of the study sample was 25-63 (37±8.75). There were 13(22.4%) males and 45(77.6%) females. Overall DAS score, mean depression, anxiety and stress score were 31.5±22, 8.7±9.1, 7.4±7.1 and 15.3±9 respectively. Females had a higher overall DAS score (U=156.5, p=.011), depression score (U=178.5, p=.032) and anxiety score (U=168.5, p=.029) as compared to males. Anxiety scores were highest in pathologists working in the microbiology section and lowest in those of the chemical pathology section (χ2=8.13, p=.043). Multiple regression analysis showed that the female gender was significantly associated with a higher overall DAS score (β=13.69, p=.047) and stress score (β=6.10, p=.031) as compared to the male gender. Conclusion: Pathologists working in the Covid-19 pandemic have a high level of mental distress and females have a higher level of psychological distress as compared to males. Implementation of mental support programmes for health care workers during pandemic situations is required to provide psychological support to health care workers.