Abstract

Anum Khan* and Ghaida Al-Jaddir

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To explore the challenges faced and physical, psychological, social and professional impact of COVID-19 on HCWs. factors influencing HCW’s willingness to report to work during the crisis. To determine the factors influencing HCW’s willingness to report to work during the crisis and effect of community, organisational and government’s support on the well-being of HCWs. Method: This quantitative research used an online survey tool, posted on social media platforms. Data analysis was retrieved from the built-in online survey software and SPSS was used to generate p-value to ascertain statistical significance between variables using Chi-square tests in regression analysis. Results: 152 HCWs were included in this study, 118 were female and 34 male. There was a strong association between willingness to work and fear of acquiring infection (p-value < 0.0043 at 95% CI). 65% of HCWs felt that their friends or family avoided them from fear of getting infected with COVID-19. There was a significant statistical association between anxiety and depression (p-value < 0.001 at 95% CI). Conclusion: The most significant impacts of COVID-19 were social, professional, and psychological. HCWs suffered from anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), moral injury and feeling of desolation. These feelings arose from unsafe work environment, fear of infection and transmission to loved ones, unsupportive workplace and added workload. Professionally, some HCWs felt that they lost skills or confidence in their work and their job role became irrelevant/ secondary. Also, of significance was lack of support from the employers, management, or supervisors.