An Assessment of Anxiety about the Viral Epidemic and Work-Related Stress in Family Physicians in Turkey: How Does COVID-19 Vaccination Period Affect Anxiety and Stress?

BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to evaluate the extent of family physicians' anxiety about the viral epidemic and work-related stress associated with the viral epidemic as well as examining the effects of COVID-19 vaccination period on such situations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data collection forms including the SAVE-9 scale, prepared for this cross-sectional study, were converted into online questionnaires and sent to family physicians in order to evaluate and examine the extent of anxiety and stress of family physicians working as family physicians in different provinces of Turkey via e-mails and communication groups between December, 2020 and March, 2021. The responses of 500 family physicians who were accessible in this way and volunteered to participate in the study were recorded to be analysed. Of all the 500 physicians, the SAVE-9 scale was re-administered to the subgroup of 50 family physicians in the post-vaccination period. The responses were compared with those received in the pre-vaccination period. RESULTS: Of all the 500 family physicians in this study, 40.6% of them were found to be in a state of anxiety about the viral epidemic. In particular, the scores of anxiety about the viral epidemic and of work-related stress were found much higher in female physicians and in those reporting that they had inadequate income. While there was a significant decline in the scores of anxiety about the viral epidemic in the subgroup in the post-vaccination period of health care workers, no statistically significant change was found in work-related stress scores. CONCLUSION: Family physicians have been suffering anxiety due to the pandemic. The vaccination period has a positive impact on anxiety levels.

25 (OH) Vitamin D Levels of Patients with COVID-19 are not Associated with the Length of Hospital Stay.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is known to suppress the release of proinflammatory cytokines, increase the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and present an immunomodulatory effect. In light of the foregoing, it is suggested that vitamin D may play an important role in the course of COVID-19 infection. This study, therefore, aimed to examine the relationship between vitamin D levels and length of hospital stay of COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted between March 15th and October 15th, 2020, among 768 patients who were hospitalized due to the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection confirmed with PCR tests taken at the Health Sciences University, Antalya Training and Research Hospital. The study included 39 patients aged 18 - 65 years, whose 25 (OH) vitamin D levels were examined within 3 months prior to the diagnosis with PCR, and whose results were found ≥ 30 ng/mL, and those patients whose 25 (OH) vitamin D levels were examined within 3 months after the diagnosis with PCR, and whose results were found < 30 ng/mL. The patients were grouped according to 25 (OH) vitamin D levels and evaluated in terms of length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Of all the 39 patients in this study, 61.5% were female, 38.5% were male, with a mean age of 48.64 ± 11.79 years. The average of 25 (OH) vitamin D levels of the patients was 21.44 ± 11.17 ng/mL, the average length of hospital stay was 9.41 ± 8.90 days. The length of stay was found to increase significantly in participants who were 45 years and older, who were male, those with chronic diseases, and those with lung involvement detected on thoracic CT imaging at the time of admission. No statistically significant difference appeared with respect to the length of hospital stay when the patients were evaluated according to their 25 (OH) vitamin D levels. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant relationship was found between the patients' length of hospital stay due to the COVID-19 infection and their 25 (OH) vitamin D levels in patients aged 18 - 65 years. Further prospective clinical studies still need to be conducted with large numbers of patients excluding independent risk factors such as the presence of a chronic disease.