Anxiety among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: Predictive role of social support

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic may cause elevated levels of anxiety in healthcare professionals (HCP). Identifying factors that could help maintain mental health especially social support could be helpful in facing this stressful situation.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to asses the relationship between the trait-anxiety and perceived social support among Tunisian HCP in the current pandemic wave of COVID-19.MethodsA cross- sectional descriptive and analytic study conducted among Tunisian HCP during November and December 2020. The data were collected by an online questionnaire. The trait-anxiety was assessed using the “General Anxiety questionnaire of Spielberger” (STAI-Y-B). We used the “Social Support Questionnaire” to measure availability and satisfaction regarding perceived social support.ResultsParticipants were 135 HCP, and aged from 24 to 61 years old (average age 31.98 years). The sex ratio was 1.1 (71 males and 64 females). Of HCP involved in the study, 61.5% were single, 36.3% were married and 2.2% were divorced. The average scores of availability and satisfaction regarding perceived social were 7.79 (SD=3.56) and 28.41 (SD=6.75), respectively. Seventy-two of the HCP had a trait-anxious. Analysis showed that social support satisfaction scores were significantly lower in trait-anxious HCP (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the score of availability according to trait-anxiety (p=0.49).ConclusionsOur study highlighted the existence of a deficit on perceived social support satisfaction among trait-anxious Tunisian HCP. Perceived social support as a determinant of trait anxiety should be the focus of social work in this period.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Trait anxiety and coping strategies among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionThe current pandemic wave of COVID-19 has become a global threat. Healthcare professionals (HCP), by being on the front line in managing this pandemic, confronted high levels of stress and traumatic experiences.ObjectivesThe aims of our study were to evaluate the trait-anxiety among Tunisian HCP and its impact on coping strategies.MethodsA cross- sectional descriptive and analytic study conducted among Tunisian HCP during November and December 2020. The data was collected by an online questionnaire distributed through social media. The trait-anxiety was assessed using the “General Anxiety questionnaire of Spielberger” (STAI-Y-B) and the “Ways of coping checklist revised (WCC-R) questionnaire” identified three types of coping (problem-focused, emotion-focused and social-support seeking).ResultsParticipants were 135 HCP (71 males and 64 females) and aged from 24 to 61 years old (average age 31.98 years;SD 6.59 years). Of HCP involved in the study, 61.5% were single, 36.3% were married and 2.2% were divorced. Seventy-two of them had a trait-anxious. As a coping style, 85.2% of participants used problem-focused style, 88.9% of them used emotion-focused style and 63% of them used social support seeking style. The analysis of WCC-R showed that anxious HCP used emotion-focused coping more than non anxious HCP (p= 0.028). However, there was no significant difference in problem-focused or social support seeking coping styles and presence of trait-anxiety.ConclusionsIn our study, we find that the most anxious Tunisian HCP focused on emotions strategies. Personality traits play on attitudes of coping strategies.DisclosureNo significant relationships.