Evaluation of Health Anxiety in Hospital Staff during COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

Abstract

Background: At the time of disease outbreaks, hospital staff's mental health may be affected. The purpose of
this study was to evaluate and compare the level of health anxiety of employees in the corona referral hospital
and non-referral hospital of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on staff working in Khorshid and Chamran hospitals in
Isfahan City, Iran, during the year 2020. 380 participants were selected by a simple random sampling method.
Health Anxiety Inventory-18 (HAI-18) anxiety questionnaire was used to measure health anxiety in addition to
questions related to demographic characteristics of the employees. The short form of this questionnaire has 18
questions and assesses health-related concerns, emotions or bodily changes, and the dire consequences of
contracting a disease.
Findings: The mean anxiety score was statistically higher in women staff than men, in those with underlying
disease than staff without it, in non-physician staff than physicians, and in hospital admitting patients with
COVID-19 than non-accepting one.
Conclusion: During COVID-19 pandemic, the mean anxiety score was higher among women staff, nonphysician staff, and staff of hospitals admitting patients with COVID-19.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 39, Issue 655
November and December 2022
Pages 987-992

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History

  • Receive Date: 03 April 2022
  • Accept Date: 03 April 2022

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