- ESTÜDAM Halk Sağlığı Dergisi
- Vol: 8 Issue: 2
- PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND FEAR OF COVID-19 IN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE WORKERS
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND FEAR OF COVID-19 IN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE WORKERS
Authors : Ömer Ataç, Mehmet Uğurcan Turhan, Seda Demiray, Murat Altay, Sinem Süer, Adem Türk, Duygu Türk, Osman Hayran
Pages : 194-205
Doi:10.35232/estudamhsd.1199121
View : 53 | Download : 63
Publication Date : 2023-05-31
Article Type : Research Article
Abstract :Primary healthcare workers as the front-line fighters against the pandemic have high risk for mental problems. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictors of psychological distress and the fear of COVID-19 in the primary health care workers. This cross-sectional study was conducted among the primary health care workers in Antalya. The data was collected using a self-administered hardcopy questionnaire which included three parts as participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and Fear of COVID-19 Scale. 65.7% of the participants are female and 40.4% are nurses-midwives. 42.2% of the participants’ departments were changed during the pandemic. Fear of COVID-19 Scale, GSI and PST scores of the females are significantly higher than males’ (all comparisons, p<0.001). Participants who changed their departments during the pandemic have significantly higher scores in all scales than who did not (all comparisons, p <0.05). Fear of COVID-19, GSI and PSDI scores of those who live in the same house with people aged 65 and over are significantly higher than those who do not (all comparisons, p<0.05). There is a moderate and significant correlation (r=0.411 and p<0.001) between the BSI scores and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. The front-line healthcare workers are at high risk of psychological distress and the fear of being infected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The positive correlation between fear of COVID-19 and frequency of psychiatric symptoms is concluded as that the remedial interventions in one can also have a positive effect on the other.Keywords : Sağlık çalışanları, COVID-19 korkusu, kısa semptom envanteri, pandemi