The upsurge of COVID-19 has caused numerous psycho-social challenges for healthcare professionals because of its ability to spread rapidly in the community and high mortality rate. The seriousness of the disease has led many healthcare professionals plagued by stigma as well as discrimination. In this study, depressive symptomatology, levels of anxiety, and related psychosocial and occupational factors experienced by healthcare professionals in Sri Lanka during COVID -19 were investigated. A total of 512 healthcare professionals were surveyed using an online survey. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised-10, and psychosocial and occupational factors predictive of depression and anxiety were included in the survey questionnaire. Logistic regression determined the factors associated with the presence of depressive symptoms and anxiety. Results showed that elevated depressive symptoms and anxiety were experienced by 53.3% and 51.3%, respectively, of the participants. No differences in the prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms and anxiety were found between those who were exposed and non-exposed to COVID-19 confirmed or suspected patients. Having a fear of being infected with COVID-19 and spreading it among family members were associated with increased risk of depression. Among those exposed to COVID-19 confirmed or suspected patients, poor occupational safety (OR = 2.06, 95% CI 1.25–3.39), stigmatization (OR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.29–3.72), and heavy workload (OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.53–3.92) were associated with increased risk of elevated depressive symptoms, whilst poor self-confidence (OR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.56–4.09) and heavy workload (OR = 1.94. 95% CI 1.22–3.12) were associated with increased risk of anxiety. Fear of being infected and distress caused by fear of spreading it among family members, stigmatization, poor self-confidence, poor occupational safety and heavy workload are vital risk factors that need to be considered in future psychological support services designed for the healthcare professionals in unprecedented outbreaks like COVID-19.

中文翻译：

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斯里兰卡医疗保健专业人员在 COVID-19 期间的心理经历


由于 COVID-19 在社区中迅速传播且死亡率高，其激增给医疗保健专业人员带来了许多心理社会挑战。这种疾病的严重性导致许多医疗保健专业人员遭受耻辱和歧视。在这项研究中，调查了斯里兰卡医疗保健专业人员在 COVID -19 期间经历的抑郁症状、焦虑水平以及相关心理社会和职业因素。通过在线调查，共有 512 名医疗保健专业人员接受了调查。调查问卷中包括广泛性焦虑症 7 项量表、流行病学研究中心抑郁量表修订版 10 以及预测抑郁和焦虑的社会心理和职业因素。逻辑回归确定了与抑郁症状和焦虑的存在相关的因素。结果显示，分别有 53.3% 和 51.3% 的参与者经历了抑郁症状和焦虑症状。在接触过和未接触过 COVID-19 确诊或疑似患者的患者中，未发现抑郁症状和焦虑升高的发生率存在差异。担心感染 COVID-19 并在家庭成员中传播会增加患抑郁症的风险。在接触过COVID-19确诊或疑似患者的人中，职业安全差（OR = 2.06，95% CI 1.25–3.39）、污名化（OR = 2.19，95% CI 1.29–3.72）和工作量大（OR = 2.45， 95% CI 1.53–3.92）与抑郁症状升高的风险增加相关，同时与自信心差（OR = 2.53，95% CI 1.56–4.09）和繁重的工作负荷（OR = 1.94。95% CI 1.22–3。12）与焦虑风险增加有关。对被感染的恐惧以及因担心在家庭成员中传播病毒而造成的痛苦、污名化、自信心差、职业安全差和繁重的工作量是未来为医疗保健专业人员设计的前所未有的心理支持服务中需要考虑的重要风险因素。像 COVID-19 这样的疫情爆发。