Journal of Psychiatry

The Psychological Effect of COVID-19 among Health Care Workers in Department of OBG and its Allied Branches at RL Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre

S.N Srujana Lakshmi^*, S.R Sheela, K Vishnu Priya and P.N Sree Ramulu Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Karnataka, India
^*Correspondence: S.N Srujana Lakshmi, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Karnataka, India, Email:

Received: 29-Nov-2023, Manuscript No. JOP-23-24203; Editor assigned: 01-Dec-2023, Pre QC No. JOP-23-24203 (PQ); Reviewed: 15-Dec-2023, QC No. JOP-23-24203; Revised: 22-Dec-2023, Manuscript No. JOP-23-24203 (R); Published: 29-Dec-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2378-5756.23.26.655

Introduction

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), an acute respiratory disease caused by Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is declared to be a public health emergency of international concern by WHO and declared COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. A large number of pneumonia cases caused by newly identified coronavirus in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It was initially named as 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), later officially named as SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) by WHO on 11 February 2020. The Chinese scientists rapidly isolated this virus from a patient on 7 January 2020. It is a beta coronavirus, enveloped non segmented positive- sense RNA virus. Human to human transmission occurs mainly between family members, including relatives and friends who had contact with patients or incubation carriers. ACE2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2), Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 found in lower respiratory tract of humans acts as receptor for virus and regulates human to human transmission [1]. The clinical diagnosis method of COVID-19 is nucleic acid detection in nasal and throat swab sampling by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and further confirmation by next generation sequencing [2].

The rapid and extensive spread of COVID-19 has become major cause of concern for the healthcare profession about their personal safety, transmission of disease to family members, stigmatization and interpersonal isolation [3]. The outbreak of COVID-19 caused not only extraordinary public health concerns but also tremendous psychological distress particularly among health care workers. Health care workers on the frontlines are vulnerable to infection. It is a life threatening and life altering event is considered traumatic enough to elicit post-traumatic stress disorder.

COVID-19 is transmitted mainly by respiratory droplets during human to human contact. It has become hazard for healthcare system, including pathogen exposure, long working hours, occupational burnout, stigma, physical and psychological stress, and fatigue [4]. The differences in working conditions in hospital has lead to differences in psychological behaviour of health care workers. The present scenario of COVID-19 and its effect on health care workers psychology has become critical, this study assessed psychological status of health care system in department of OBG and its allied branches at RLJH hospital and research centre.

Materials and Methods

Study site

The study was conducted among Health care workers in Department of OBG and its allied branches at R. L. Jalappa Hospital and research centre, a tertiary care hospital in Kolar, Karnataka.

Subjects

All health care workers including Consultants, postgraduates, house surgeons, Nursing staff, Operation theatre staff and technicians, house-keeping and security members who worked during COVID-19 outbreak in Department of OBG and its allied branches.

Study tool

The study tool included questionnaire derived data filled by staff mentioned above. It is derived and modified from MERS COV staff questionnaire. It consisted of 2 sections with 40 questions. Participation included voluntary staff worked in OBG department and allied branches during COVID-19 outbreak.

The first section consists of 20 questions related to factors causing stress. Each question required yes or no answer. Those who answered yes were further evaluated the severity of stress factor (0-minimal, 1-mild, 2-moderate, 3-severe).

The second section consists of 20 questions regarding factors which helped to reduce stress either provided directly or indirectly by hospital. The responses include how effectively these factors helped to reduce stress (0-not effective, 1-mildly effective, 2-moderately effective, 3-extremely effective) [5-6].

Results

Section 1 which was related to factors causing stress among the staff yielded the results as shown in Table 1. No adequate protective measures, stress among colleagues, infection from patients, emotional exhaustion, increased number of new cases, and lack of treatment were major factors causing Moderate stress. Transmission of disease to family and friends, colleagues with respiratory symptoms, shortage of staff, time of exposure to patients, chances of infection due to lack of concentration were identified as Mild stress factors among the staff [7].

Table 1: Section 1 dealing with factors causing stress were analyzed.

Colleagues getting better, sharing jokes among colleagues, chatting with family and friends, by understanding mechanism of transmission and prevention were proved to be moderately effective in reducing stress. Protective measures and strict guidelines from hospital for infection prevention, personal safety, support from colleagues, reduction of working hours, and minimal exposure to public places, improvement in patient condition were mildly effective to relieve stress in our staff are showed in Table 2.

Table 2: Section 2 dealing with factors reducing stress were analysed.

Discussion

Health care workers are the one who risk their lives as they are on the frontline during any epidemic. They are facing an unprecedented workload in stressful and frightening work environments, in spite of which they continue to work due to professional obligation. The dedication and selflessness behaviour of heath care system allow the rest of world a degree of reassurance that outbreak can be controlled [8].

The COVID-19 pandemic, very rapid in its transmission has caused many deaths across the world. The incidence was greater in China, European countries, USA, Russia, India. In India the attack rate was slow initially. The first case reported in India was on January 30, 2020 in Kerala. The diagnostic measures gradually increased leading to faster rate of case detection. The government of India took appropriate preventive measures such as quarantine, social distancing and complete lockdown from March 22, 2020. As per 8 May 2020, total number of 56,342 people was confirmed positive for COVID-19 in India. The highest incidence reported in Maharashtra followed by Gujarat, Delhi, Tamilnadu, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. 16,540 people had recovered whereas 1,886 deaths occurred. In our hospital, 11 suspected cases got admitted, out of which 7 were confirmed as positive cases for which isolation measures were strictly followed.

Strengths and limitations

The strengths of this study were sufficient sample size, participation of all healthcare workers including not only medical staff, but also paramedical, housekeeping and security staff and study period conducted during the outbreak. Limitation was no positive cases in department of obstetrics and gynecology.

Conclusion

The factors such as physical stress, shortage of staff, increasing cases reported on media, no protective measures, lack of treatment, colleagues developing respiratory symptoms, fear that they could transmit infection to families or friends were identified as extremely stressful for the staff. They were also concerned with lack of protective equipment, increased workload, small mistake or lapses in concentration leading to infection [9].

Protective measures for infection prevention by hospital, decrease in number of cases after implementation of preventive measures, support from colleagues, reduction of working hours, minimal exposure to public places, improvement in patient condition were the main factors that helped to relieve stress [10].

COVID-19 outbreak caused psychological distress among healthcare workers. The main elements focused were personal safety, provision of protective equipment, strict guidelines from hospital for prevention, knowing mechanism of transmission, support and positive attitude from colleagues. The experience of Healthcare workers can be enhanced by hospitals on targeting the above mentioned aspects during future outbreaks.

Conflict of Interests

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare in relation to this article. Complete disclosure of interest forms are available to view online as supporting information.

Authors's Contributions

SSR contributed to concept and design of the study. SNS, VPK helped in acquisition of data, literature search and detailed workup. The manuscript was revised by SSR, SNS, and VPK. PNS helped in administrative, technical and material support. All authors approved the final submitted version of the manuscript.

Ethics Approval

This study was approved on May 27^th 2020 by Ethical Clearance Review Board of SDUMC, Kolar, and Karnataka, India.

Funding

The authors had no funders for authorship, research and publication of this article.

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