Anxiety and Coping Strategies among Italian-Speaking Physicians: A Comparative Analysis of the Contractually Obligated and Voluntary Care of COVID-19 Patients.

Journal: Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)

Volume: 11

Issue: 23

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Department of Psychology, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, Agri , Turkey. Special Education Department, College of Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil , Iraq. Department of Psychology, Mersin University, Mersin , Turkey. Department of Clinical Research and Development, LUXMED Group, - Warsaw, Poland. Department of Emergency, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli and Sacco, Milan, Italy. Infectious Diseases Unit, University Hospital "G.Martino", Messina, Italy. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences Fès-Saïss, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez , Morocco. Post-Graduate School of Occupational Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON MG V, Canada.

Abstract summary 

This study aims to explore the differences in the psychological impact of COVID-19 on physicians, specifically those who volunteered or were contractually obligated to provide care for COVID-19 patients. While previous research has predominantly focused on the physical health consequences and risk of exposure for healthcare workers, limited attention has been given to their work conditions. This sample comprised 300 physicians, with 68.0% of them men (mean age = 54.67 years; SD = 12.44; range: 23-73). Participants completed measurements including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Coping Inventory in Stressful Situations (CISS), and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (C.A.S.). Pearson's correlations were conducted to examine the relationships between the variables of interest. This study employed multivariate models to test the differences between work conditions: (a) involvement in COVID-19 patient care, (b) volunteering for COVID-19 patient management, (c) contractual obligation to care for COVID-19 patients, and (d) COVID-19 contraction in the workplace. The results of the multivariate analysis revealed that direct exposure to COVID-19 patients and contractual obligation to care for them significantly predicted state anxiety and dysfunctional coping strategies [Wilks' Lambda = 0.917 F = 3.254 < 0.001]. In contrast, volunteering or being affected by COVID-19 did not emerge as significant predictors for anxiety or dysfunctional coping strategies. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing the psychological well-being of physicians involved in COVID-19 care and highlight the need for targeted interventions to support their mental and occupational health.

Authors & Co-authors:  Rizzo Amelia A Yıldırım Murat M Aziz Izaddin Ahmad IA Çağış Zafer Güney ZG Szarpak Łukasz Ł Nucera Gabriella G Sitibondo Aldo A Khabbache Hicham H Chirico Francesco F Nowrouzi-Kia Behdin B

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  Koontalay A., Suksatan W., Prabsangob K., Sadang J.M. Healthcare workers’ burdens during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative systematic review. J. Multidiscip. Healthc. 2021;14:3015–3025. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S330041.
Authors :  10
Identifiers
Doi : 3044
SSN : 2227-9032
Study Population
Men
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
COVID-19;healthcare workers;occupational health;physicians;volunteering;work issues
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
Switzerland