Abstract
Background:
The Covid-19 pandemic is a healthcare crisis that has led to remarkable impact on healthcare services. At the centre of the unique crisis, healthcare workers faced several challenges in treating patients with Covid-19. Studies reported physical and psychological health problems, including fatigue and burnout, especially among frontline health professionals. Substantial levels of anxiety and stress that adversely influence sleep quality and self-efficacy were also reported.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to determine the physical and mental effects of Covid-19 on nurses working in both private and public hospitals in Gauteng, West Rand Region.
Methods
A total of 367 health care workers were assessed in this study. Participants completed online questionnaires via email, Facebook, WhatsApp, and internal communication channels within the hospitals. The collected data were analysed using Statistical Analysis Software (STATA 17). Frequency tables, means (SD), median (range), charts, and graphs were used to describe the prevalence of physical and psychological health outcomes during Covid-19. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors associated with physical (fatigue, headache, and trouble sleeping) and mental (depression, anxiety, and stress) effects. P <0.05 was regarded as the level of significance.
Results
The mean age for study participants was 39 (SD = 10). Majority of study participants were females 224 (66.6%). Most of the participants were unmarried. The participants that always experienced headaches and those that experienced headaches sometimes were 136 (37.5%) and 127 (37.7%), respectively. More than half of the nurses - 205 (55.7%) declared that they sometimes had difficulty sleeping. Participants who were willing to seek psychological help were more likely associated with a risk of having stress, depression and anxiety: (OR:3.2 [95%CI 1.2-8.3]), ([OR:2.8 [1.2-8.3]), and (OR: 2.4 [1.1-3.5]), respectively. Working in contact with Covid-19 patients was a predictor for stress (OR: 1.5 [95%CI: 0.2-0.7]), depression (OR: 1.5 [95% CI: 0.3-0.8]), and anxiety (OR: 1.4 [95%CI: 1.0-3.1]). Working in the department that admits Covid-19 patients was a predictor for depression (OR:1.9 [95%CI: 1.1-3.1]) and stress (OR:1.8 [95% CI: 1.1-3.1]), and having suicidal thoughts was a predictor for stress (OR 1.9 [95% CI: 1.0-3.4]), depression (OR: 1.4 [95%CI: 1.1-3.4]), and anxiety (OR: 1.5 [95%CI: 10-3]).
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Conclusion
The results of this study indicate that frontline healthcare workers working in both public and private hospitals are at increased risk of developing physical and psychological health problems. Work environment-specific strategies are needed to improve the health of healthcare workers during the pandemic. Future research should focus on conducting intervention studies aimed at preventing the psychological and physical health problems among healthcare workers working in public and private health institutions.
Keywords: Covid-19, psychological effects, physical effects, health care workers, mental effects, nurses.