AI Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the levels of stress experienced by doctors in Turkey and Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting that high stress and traumatic stress were prevalent among healthcare workers due to the demands and challenges posed by the pandemic.
- Data were collected online from 618 medical doctors using stress assessment tools, with results showing higher stress levels among Turkish doctors compared to their Italian counterparts, particularly related to factors like gender, marital status, and work environment.
- The findings suggest that Turkey's healthcare workers may face additional stress due to higher patient visits per doctor and longer hours, indicating a need for international collaboration to improve mental health support and future preparedness strategies for healthcare systems.
Article Abstract
Background: Pandemics are states of disease that occur worldwide and sharply increase in populations. It causes life events which trigger anxiety, depression, anger, sleep deprivation, emotional distress and stress. World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic on March 11, pointing to the over 118,000 cases in over 110 countries. Many healthcare workers became ill during the pandemic and some among them died. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare level of stress against COVID-19 pandemic among doctors from Turkey and Italy.
Methods: This research is a cross-sectional study in which Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) are administered online via social networks. All data collection tools were delivered to individuals between 1 and 15 June 2020 and filled in online with Google Forms application. In total, 618 individuals were included in this study and all of them were medical doctors.
Results: Higher PS and STS levels were found related to female gender, being married, working in pandemic hospital and older ages. Stress levels were found statistically higher in Turkish doctors when compared to Italian doctors for both stress scales (Turkish/Italian PSS:20.18 ± 7.90/ 19.35 ± 6.71, STSS: 44.19 ± 13.29/ 38.83 ± 13.74).
Conclusion: The number of doctors per 1000 of population is lower and per capita visits to a physician are higher in Turkey when compared to Italy. Besides pandemic, these heavier working conditions, increased weekly working hours can cause stress for Turkish doctors. Reporting information such this study is important and international collaborations are essential to plan future prevention strategies. We need to strengthen international ties and build more international collaborations rather than staying within our national silos. Additionally, interventions to promote mental well-being in health care professionals exposed to COVID-19 need to be immediately implemented.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8646585 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.14973 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!