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Factors Associated with Psychological Disturbance among Healthcare Providers during the Early Phase of COVID-19 Pandemic in Kelantan, Malaysia

Original article

Abstrak

Pandemik COVID-19 mempunyai kesan yang ketara terhadap emosi dan psikologi populasi umum di mana penyedia penjagaan kesihatan juga tidak terkecuali. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti faktor-faktor yang menyebabkan gangguan psikologi, seperti traumatisasi gantian, kebimbangan dan kemurungan, dalam kalangan penyedia penjagaan kesihatan semasa fasa awal pandemik COVID-19. Kajian keratan rentas ini melibatkan 306 peserta yang memenuhi kriteria kajian dari Mei hingga Julai 2020 di hospital tertiari negeri. Kami menggunakan laporan kes urus sendiri yang mengandungi data sosio-ekonomi dan tiga borang soal selidik dalam versi Bahasa Melayu iaitu Soal Selidik Traumatisasi Gantian versi Bahasa Melayu, Skala Kebimbangan dan Kemurungan Hospital serta Kajian Hasil Perubatan Tinjauan Sokongan Sosial. Analisis deskriptif dan regresi linear digunakan untuk analisis traumatisasi gantian manakala regresi logistik binari digunakan untuk analisis hasil kebimbangan dan kemurungan telah dilakukan. Hasil kajian mencadangkan bahawa peserta yang bekerja di Jabatan Perubatan lebih berkemungkinan mengalami gangguan psikologi berbanding jabatan lain. Petugas kesihatan bukan barisan hadapan (pekali terlaras [95% CI]: -17.04 [-24.77, -9.30]) dan penyedia penjagaan kesihatan wanita (pekali terlaras [95% CI]: 10.73 [2.99, 18.46]) dikaitkan dengan traumatisasi gantian. Petugas kesihatan bukan barisan hadapan (nisbah ganjil terlaras [95% CI]: 0.13 [0.06, 0.29]) juga dikaitkan dengan kebimbangan di samping bekerja secara giliran (nisbah ganjil terlaras [95% CI]: 3.80 [1.04, 13.83]). Sementara itu, pegawai perubatan (nisbah ganjil terlaras [95% CI]: 0.31 [0.10, 0.91]) kurang berkemungkinan melaporkan simptom kemurungan berbanding jururawat. Hasil kajian ini boleh membantu birokrasi hospital untuk memberi tumpuan kepada intervensi yang sesuai untuk meningkatkan kesihatan mental dan psikologi penyedia penjagaan kesihatan. 

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic had significant emotional and psychological effects on the general population where healthcare providers were no exception. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with psychological disturbances such as vicarious traumatisation, anxiety and depression among healthcare providers during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study included 306 participants who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria from May to July 2020 in a state tertiary hospital. We employed a self-administered case report form containing socio-economic data and three questionnaires, i.e. Malay version Vicarious Traumatization Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey. Descriptive analysis and linear regression were applied for vicarious traumatisation while binary logistic regression was applied for anxiety and depression outcomes. The findings suggested that participants worked in the Medical Department were more likely to develop psychological disturbances than other departments. Non-frontline (adjusted coefficient [95% CI]: -17.04 [-24.77, -9.30]) and female healthcare providers (adjusted coefficient [95% CI]: 10.73 [2.99, 18.46]) were associated with vicarious traumatisation. Non-frontline healthcare providers (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.13 [0.06, 0.29]) were also associated with anxiety besides shift work (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 3.80 [1.04, 13.83]). Meanwhile, medical officers (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.31 [0.10, 0.91]) were less likely to report depression symptoms compared to staff nurses. These findings can assist hospital bureaucracy to focus on necessary interventions to improve the mental and psychological health of healthcare providers.