Comparison of Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Health Care Professionals working in COVID versus Non COVID Health care facilities in

ABSTRACT

Background: The study aimed to compare the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health care professionals (HCPs). Methodology: It was a cross sectional study carried out on health care professionals (doctors, nursing staff and paramedical HCPs) in India. Depression, generalized anxiety, panic symptoms, hypochondriacal and obsessional symptoms were assessed through questions based on ICD-10 criteria. A pre tested google questionnaire was prepared and its link was sent through various social media. Results: A total of 626 HCPs (385 doctors, 124 nursing staff, 117 Paramedical HCPs) were included in the study. Depression, generalized anxiety, panic symptoms, hypochondriacal symptoms and obsessional symptoms were found in 13.3%, 21.2% 5.1%, 16.5% and 32.6% of the HCPs respectively. Depression, generalized anxiety and panic symptoms were found to be significantly higher in the HCPs of COVID health care facilities (p0.009; p<0.001; p0.035 respectively). Female HCP was associated with depression [OR 2.34 (1.38-3.96); p-0.002] and panic symptoms [OR 3.43 (1.46-8.07); p-0.005]. Generalized anxiety was more common in HCPs working in COVID health care facilities [1.91 (1.20-3.03); p-0.006]. Conclusion: The study concludes that being a female health care professional, doctors and those working in COVID health care facilities were at a higher risk of having poor psychological health.