Health anxiety to COVID-19 virus infection and its relationship to quality of life in a sample of health care workers in Egypt: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim of the study: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are more prone to extraordinary fears of COVID – 19 virus infection. This study aimed to explore the frequency and predictors of health anxiety to COVID-19 virus infection among HCWs and identify its relationship to their quality of life (QOL). Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of HCWs in hospitals of Sharkia Province, Egypt from June 30 to July 16, 2020. A total of 218 HCWs were interviewed using the short health anxiety inventory (SHAI), Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and The World Health Organization Quality of Life – BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: The frequency of health anxiety to COVID-19 virus among HCWs was 28%. Symptoms of depression, hostility, phobia and somatization, and history of chronic medical illnesses showed greater odds of health anxiety to COVID-19 virus (OR: 6.7, 9.1, 7.3, 7.7, and 12.6, respectively). Being physicians and the increased number of sleeping hours were less likely associated with health anxiety to COVID-19 virus (OR: 0.1 and 0.5, respectively). Health anxiety to COVID-19 virus was inversely correlated with all domains of QOL among HCWs. Conclusions: Health anxiety to Covid-19 virus infection is common among HCWs, and it negatively affects their QOL.