Assessment of Anxiety, Depression and Work-Related Strain Levels of Healthcare Professionals Working in Operating Rooms and Intensive Care Units During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the levels of work-related strain, anxiety, and depression in health professionals working in operating rooms and intensive care units who deal with the diagnosis, treatment, and care of coronavirus disease 19 patients. Methods: The population of the study consisted of 320 healthcare professionals working in the operating room and intensive care units. After providing detailed information about the study to the participants, a questionnaire consisting of 21 questions including sociodemographic information and working life characteristics, 14 questions from the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and 18 questions from the Work-Related Strain Inventory (WRSI) were administered under supervision. Results: In total, 58.8% of the participants were working in intensive care units, and 41.2% of the participants were in the operating room. The scores obtained from Work-Related Strain Inventory were found to be statistically significantly high in those who wanted to choose a different profession, those who were on duty during the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic process, those whose spouses followed coronavirus disease 19 patients during the pandemic, those who encountered a suspicious situation and had a coronavirus disease 19 test, those who had difficulty in accessing personal protective equipment, and those who thought that their lives were in danger during the pandemic process. Participants with anxiety risk according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale and depression risk according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression subscale were found to be 153 (47.8%) and 300 (93.8%), respectively. Conclusions: It was found that Work-Related Strain Inventory and anxiety-depression rates were significantly high in both the operating room and intensive care unit workers who actively provided healthcare services to patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 19.