Alok N Ghanate¹, Laxmidevi M Patil^2*, Namdev Chawan³, Prafulla J Wali⁴

¹Professor and Head of Department, ²Junior Resident, ³Assistant Professor, ⁴Senior Resident, Department of Psychiatry, Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Kalaburgi, Karnataka, INDIA.

Email: luxpatil963@gmail.com

RESULTS

Maximum number of subjects 86 (78.2%) were belonging to the age group of 21-30 years, followed by 22 (20.0%) were of age group 31-40 years. There was no statistical significant difference of age among males and females (P>0.05)

Table 1: Age and sex wise distribution of cases

Table No 2 reveals that, Out of 110 health care professionals 32 (29.1%) of the subjects had stress, 35 (31.8%) had anxiety, and 40 (36.4%) had depression

Table 2: Health care professionals according to levels of Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Table 3 reveals that, Out of 110 health care professionals 40 (36.4%) of subjects had insomnia and 70 (63.6%) had no clinically significant insomnia.

Table 3: Levels of quality of sleep

Table No 4 reveals that there was statistical significant difference in level of stress and anxiety in marital status and work status (P<0.05). Single or unmarried subjects had significantly more stress and anxiety levels as compare to married.

Interns and junior resident had significantly more stress and anxiety as compared to other status of work. Study reveals that, there was no statistical significant difference in level of stress and anxiety between age groups, sex, Residence, educational qualification and department they belonged to. (P>0.05).

Table 4: Demographical profile wise comparison of levels stress and anxiety scores

Table no 5 reveals that there was statistical significant difference in level of depression and insomnia amongst age groups, marital status and work status (P<0.05). Lower age group of subjects had significantly higher depression and insomnia as compared to higher age group. Single or unmarried subjects had significantly higher depression levels and insomnia as compared to married and others. Intern and junior resident had significantly more depression and insomnia as compared to other status of work. Study reveals that, there was no statistical significant difference in level of depression and quality of sleep between sex, Residence, educational qualification and department they belonged to (P>0.05).

Table 5: Demographical profile wise comparison of levels depression and quality of sleep scores

Table No 6 reveals that, out of 110 subjects; 58 (52.7%) of subjects had come in direct or indirect contact with a confirmed covid-19 case and 52 (47.3%) of subjects did not come into contact with a covid-19 case. Out of 58 subjects who have contact history, showed statistical significance in all the above 4 domains. Out of which, the highest statistical significance was seen in anxiety.

Table 6: Comparison of stress, anxiety, depression and quality of sleep among contact with confirmed covid-19 infection and without contact

DISCUSSION

The recent pandemic of COVID‑19 has thrown serious challenges to health‑care professionals. This situation exposed them to higher stress levels, anxiety, and apprehension. Moreover, it affects their work output which, in the pipeline, affects the health‑care delivery to the whole nation.⁴ The current study observes that, maximum number of subjects 86 (78.2%) were belonging to the age group of 21-30 years, followed by 22 (20.0%) were belonging to the age groups of 31-40 years which is in accordance with the review conducted by Mamidipalli Sai et al.⁵ This study found no statistical significant difference between male and female gender which is similar to the study conducted by Wilson William et al.⁶ Highest number constituted of junior residents 68 (61.8%) which is similar to the study conducted by William and et al.⁶ 85 (77.3%) subjects had their educational qualification MD/ MS/ Diploma which is similar to the study conducted by S S Chatterjee et al.⁴ Higher rates of anxiety and depression was generally noted than stress in the subjects which is similar to the findings of Wilson William et al.⁶ The prevalence rates for stress, anxiety and depression were 29.1%, 31.8% and36.4% respectively. However, Chatterjee et al.⁴ demonstrated higher levels of anxiety (39.5%), compared to depression (34.9%), but had similar low levels of stress (32.9) as in our study. In our study, insomnia was seen in 36.4% of people which is similar to Lai Jianbo. et al.⁷ who found insomnia in 34% subjects in their study. Depression, which was found to be higher was of moderate type (19.1%) and subjects experiencing anxiety and stress were more of severe type (14.5% and 12.7%) similar to the study by Chatterjee et al.⁴ Level of stress and anxiety were high in unmarried and junior residents which was statistically significant. This may be due to the burden of doing COVID-19 duties, lesser time for the academics and constant fear of getting infected from others. Level of depression and insomnia were high among younger age group < 30 years, unmarried and junior residents which was statistically significant. As our study sample, constituted around 78% below the age of 30 years, where depression is a common prevalence. Xiao et al.⁸ have studied the role of social support in medical staff and looked for its association with self-efficacy, sleep quality, degrees of anxiety and stress. Results suggested that the social support given to medical staff caused a reduction in anxiety and stress levels and increased their self-efficacy. Protecting health care workers is an important component of public health measures for addressing the COVID-19 epidemic. Special interventions to promote mental well-being in health care workers exposed to COVID-19 need to be immediately implemented, with women, nurses, and frontline workers requiring particular attention.⁷ The study sample size was small and consisted predominantly younger age group (78%), so the results cannot be generalized to entire HCW. A large scale multicentric study will probably give a larger picture of morbidity amongst HCW and guide us for better service planning and delivery.

CONCLUSION

Health care providers working during COVID 19 pandemic have high prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress and poor quality of sleep. In the present study, age, marital status and work status were noted as significant risk factors for depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia

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