The Psychological Stress of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers in the Kurdistan Region

Jamal K. Shakor; Delan J. Qadir; Trifa M. Mohammed; Raza M. Abdulla

doi:10.24086/cuesj.v7n1y2023.pp67-73

Jamal K. Shakor Nursing Department, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Darbandikhan Technical Institute Sulaimani, Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6625-1193
Delan J. Qadir Adult department, College of Nursing, University of Sulamani, Sulaimani, Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2009-8255
Trifa M. Mohammed Psychiatric Nursing and Mental health department, College of Nursing, University of Sulamani, Sulaimani, Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8626-4204
Raza M. Abdulla Statistic and Computer Department, College of Commerce, University of Sulamani, Sulaimani, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6006-1492

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24086/cuesj.v7n1y2023.pp67-73

Keywords: Anxiety, coronavirus disease-19, depression, health care workers, Kurdistan

Abstract

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic can lead to terrific condition among healthcare workers (HCWs) and severe stress reactions can raise the risk of secondary trauma. The aim of this study was determine the psychological burden of the COVID-19 outbreak on HCWs. The cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted online from September 1 to September 18, 2020. Online questionnaires employing scales including the generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), and perceived stress scale (PSS-10) were used to investigate anxiety, depression, and stress. This study has shown that percentage of severe anxiety, stress, and depression were (22%), (3.9%), and (11%) respectively among HCWs. There was a significant association of PHQ score with age, gender, marital status, number of children, kind of employment, and work experiences. GAD score was found to have a significant relationship (P = 0.05) with gender, job title, and healthcare experiences in this study. The PSS score of women who worked in hospitals was found to be considerably higher. Health-care professionals in Kurdistan experienced high anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 epidemic.

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Author Biographies

Jamal K. Shakor, Nursing Department, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Darbandikhan Technical Institute Sulaimani, Iraq.

Jamal K. Shakor is a Lecturer in Sulaimani Polytechnic University. Currently he is a trainer and lecturr of nursing in Sulaimani Polytechnic University. His research interests are women health and breast cancer.

Delan J. Qadir, Adult department, College of Nursing, University of Sulamani, Sulaimani, Iraq.

Delan J. Qader,holds a Ph.D. Degree in Adult Nursing from the College of Nursing /University of Sulaimani-Iraq (2011). Current Position as a lecturer at the University of Sulaimani, College of Nursing, Department of Fundamental Nursing, Head of Fundamental of Nursing.

Trifa M. Mohammed, Psychiatric Nursing and Mental health department, College of Nursing, University of Sulamani, Sulaimani, Iraq.

Trifa M. Mohammed a senior lecturer at a nursing college with a psychiatric and mental health specialization. She hold a Ph.D. in psychiatry since 2013 and have more than 15 years of experience in teaching within the nursing
program in Kurdistan Iraq, and Sweden. Her interest area is in the field of psychiatry,behavior,psychological distress, majordepression, suicidal ideation, public health and engagment etc.

Raza M. Abdulla, Statistic and Computer Department, College of Commerce, University of Sulamani, Sulaimani, Iraq

Raza M. Abdulla is an assistant lecturer in Statistics and Compute Department in College of Commerce at University of Sulaimani. He has numerous practical work fields in terms of collecting and analyzing data. Also, he is expert in designing survey, quantitative and qualitative questionnaire. His research focuses on teaching methods, population change, population health and computer science.

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