Psychological coping mechanisms among healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Introduction@#Globally, COVID – 19 (SARS COV -2) became an enormous challenge with serious threat to the healthcare workers. This study aimed to provide the psychological coping mechanisms among healthcare workers in tertiary hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in the locale of Eastern Visayas.@*Objective@#This study was conducted to determine the psychological coping mechanisms among healthcare workers in tertiary hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary objectives were to determine the demographic profile of health care workers as to: age, sex, civil status, profession and area of assignment, to identify the issues of concern that contribute to the mental or psychological stress affecting the healthcare workers, to identify the psychological coping mechanisms of healthcare workers to ease their stress and to determine the correlation between issues of concern and coping mechanisms to the demographic profile of the healthcare workers. @*Methods@#Utilized a cross-sectional descriptive study with analytical component. Sample size of 142 was computed using the Epi Info 7 software with confidence interval of 95% and the margin of error of 5%. Descriptive analysis was utilized to identify the socio- demographic profile of HCWs and Pearson r tests in SPSS used in correlation to issues of concern and psychological coping mechanisms.@*Results@#One hundred forty two healthcare workers were included in the study. Of these, almost all respondents belong to aged 20-39 (92.3%). Majority were female and single. As to profession, many were physicians and nurses while as to area of assignments, some in the COVID Ward (24.6%). As to issues of concern, the results showed moderately in physical issues (2.55), mental and emotional issues (2.12). With regards to coping mechanisms, appraisal- focused (adaptive –cognitive) (3.55), emotion- focused (3.50) and problem- focused (adaptive – behavioral) coping mechanisms (3.18) were all very important. The correlational analysis showed that issues of concern and psychological coping mechanisms experienced by HCWs were not significantly related or associated to their demographics profile. @*Conclusion@#Based on the findings, the appraisal- focused (adaptive – cognitive), emotion- focused and problem- focused (adaptive – behavioral) coping mechanisms were all very important coping mechanisms among HCWs. Demographic profiles were not significantly associated with issues of concern and psychological coping mechanisms of HCWs in a tertiary hospital during COVID-19 pandemic.