Abstract
Background: Healthcare workers in direct contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients often face a negative impact on psychological health. This study aims to examine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic from January 2022 to April 2022 at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The prevalence of depression and anxiety was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire. Kruskal–Wallis’s test was used to compare the total scores of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 with respect to demographic characteristics. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 123 nurses were included in the study. Most of them were females (69.92%), aged 30–39 years (45.53%), had a bachelor's degree in nursing (75.61%), and had more than ten years of experience (3830.89%). The depression and anxiety prevalence in the study was 78.1% and 72.4%, respectively. Nurses aged 30–39 years were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Female nurses showed significantly higher scores for depression and anxiety than males 74.42% and 67.45%, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that nurses are at risk for developing depression and anxiety. Therefore, regular mental health screening is necessary for nurses, particularly during a pandemic.
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References
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