Impact of COVID-19 on Sleep, Anxiety, and Depression Among Medical Call Center Staff: Insights from a January 2021 Study.

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 outbreak emerged as a dual threat, effecting both the physical and mental well-being of healthcare staff. This study aimed to evaluate sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), levels of anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), and the significant influencing factors during COVID-19 pandemic in 284 workers in a medical call center in January 2021. MATERIAL AND METHODS Out of 443 pre-hospital care providers, 284 consented to participate. Data collection was done using an introductory information form, the PSQI for sleep quality, and the HADS for anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D). Surveys were hosted on an online survey website and distributed via WhatsApp, with completed forms retrieved from the website. RESULTS Male sex (P=0.0001) and extended working hours in current workplace (P=0.017) were associated with higher HADS-A scores. Health problems, increased need for mental support, and poor job satisfaction correlated with lower HADS-D scores (P=0.025, P=0.005, P=0.0001, respectively) and higher PSQI scores (P=0.008, P=0.009, P=0.008, respectively). A moderately significant positive correlation was found between overall sleep quality and HADS-A (P=0.001, r=0.538) and HADS-D scores (P=0.001, r=0.493). CONCLUSIONS The pandemic significantly impacted the mental health and sleep quality of frontline healthcare personnel, necessitating the identification and mitigation of adverse psychosocial factors. Implementing and evaluating psychoeducational programs and establishing multidisciplinary mental health teams can provide for essential support and counseling, promoting the well-being of healthcare staff and ensuring effective emergency care.

The impact of COVID-19 on social support perception and stress of prehospital care providers.

BACKGROUND: This study seeks to explore the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the social support perception and acute stress disorder of prehospital care providers (PCPs) in the province of Denizli. METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between December 25, 2020 and January 25, 2021. Out of 510 ambulatory care staff constituting the study population, there were 287 PCPs (%56.2), including 13 physicians, 89 paramedics, 134 emergency medical technicians, and 51 individuals from other occupational groups (nurse, driver, cleaning staff, medical secretary) based at emergency health services. The data collection tools employed in the study include an introductory information form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Short Scale (NSESSS), which was organized as an online questionnaire. RESULTS: We analyzed the data from 287 PCPs that completed the form and scales. The mean score of the NSESSS was calculated as 1.53 ± 0.79. The PCPs who experienced health problems (1.85 ± 0.69), suffered from mental problems and received psychotherapy and medication (2.57 ± 0.57), encountered COVID-19 patients (1.58 ± 0.8), provided care for COVID-19 patients (1.59 ± 0.79), and took polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests (1.68 ± 0.78) had higher acute stress symptom levels. The total mean score of MSPSS was calculated as 66.28 ± 17.22. Total MSPSS scores of the participants varied significantly in terms of age, marital status, taking a COVID-19 test, suffering from mental problems, status of encountering a COVID-19 patient, and workplace satisfaction (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings are suggestive of high perceptions of multidimensional social support and low acute stress symptom levels of the PCPs during the COVID-19 pandemic period.