The Magnitude of Psychological Distress Among Interns During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicentric Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.13062022807Keywords:
Interns, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, COVID-19Abstract
Background: COVID-19 has raised serious concerns about the wellbeing of frontline health care workers. Healthcare staff are at increased risk of psychological health problems when dealing with challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the healthcare professionals, the most commonly affected are those working on the frontline, who are the first to come in contact with the patients.
Objectives: To determine the levels of depression, anxiety and stress among interns during COVID-19 pandemic, and, to assess the factors affecting mental health of the interns during COVID-19 pandemic.
Methodology: This was a web-based multicentric cross-sectional study conducted among interns of various tertiary care teaching hospitals providing COVID care services, during July – August 2021. Data was collected using a self-administered online questionnaire based on the standard DASS-21 scale that assessed the various domains of psychological distress.
Result: Among the study subjects 46% suffered with all three psychological domains like depression, anxiety and stress, 15% had only anxiety, around 10% had anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic while 22.5% had no psychological problems.
Conclusions: Significant proportions of interns were suffering from depression, anxiety and stress. Fear of COVID-19, long working hours, usage of PPE, COVID vaccination status, and COVID-19 infection status were identified as potential predictors of psychological distress.
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Copyright (c) 2022 Vandana Valluri, Pidakala Mary Moses, Kiranmayi Karanati, Simmi Oberoi, Thej Kiran Reddy Dalli
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