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?

ABSTRACT

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.