Abstract

Factors Influencing Stress Perception among Healthcare Workers during the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Multi-centric Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Pandemics increase the susceptibility of psychological illnesses among Healthcare Workers (HCWs). We aimed to estimate the stress level and identify factors influencing stress among healthcare workers during the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: A multi-centric cross-sectional study was performed between November 2020 and January 2021 in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, involving four governmental hospitals. HCWs volunteered to participate in an electronic self-administered questionnaire, which used the 10-item perceived stress scale to assess stress.

Results: A total of 413 responses were received. Only 377 were eligible for this study. The mean stress score was 20 (SD=5). Most of the HCWs reported moderate stress levels (82%), compared to low or high-stress levels (10%) and (8%), respectively. Significant predictors for high-stress perception were determined using multivariate analysis. Our study determined that female, frontline, younger age groups and working long hours per day resulted in higher stress development.

Conclusions: This study indicated that overall, HCWs who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic were moderately stressed. Occupational stress management strategies need to be implemented to decrease stress to help manage COVID-19 related psychological problems and future pandemicrelated problemsy.

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