Covid 19 Related Stressors among Health Care Workers in Makkah, 2021

Abstract

Background: When the contagious COVID-19 spread worldwide, the frontline staff faced extraordinary excessive work pressure and potentials of all of the society.

Objective: The aim was to explore Covid 19 related stressors among health care workers in Makkah, 2021.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary hospital during the outbreak of COVID-19 between March and May 2021 in Makkah, Data were collected from 1208 healthcare workers. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Written informed consent was also received from participants.

Results: Less than 60% of participants chose moderate or severe stress on all stressors, indicating a low stress level among healthcare workers. The main source of stress among frontline healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients came from the fear of being infected, the fear of family members being infected, and the discomfort caused by protective equipment. Frontline staff who was nurses, were married, and had worked more than 20 days suffered higher stress, whereas rescue staff showed lower stress.

Conclusion: The healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 had low stress level, although they still had the fear of being infected or uncomfortable feeling caused by personal protective equipment. A low stress level among healthcare workers indicated their professional devotion and altruism during COVID-19 epidemic. Medical institutions and the government should continue to strengthen infection prevention measures and provide more comprehensive care involving families of frontline healthcare workers, especially nurses and married staff. It will be a lesson to other countries that awaking healthcare workers’ inside motivation and providing necessary support from government and society were significant.