TY - JOUR
T1 - Depressive symptoms among primary healthcare workers during the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic in the Muscat governorate
AU - Al Lawati, Anwaar
AU - Al Ghafri, Thamra
AU - Anwar, Huda
AU - Al Ajmi, Fatma
AU - Al Hasani, Said
AU - Chan, Moon Fai
AU - Mahadevan, Sangeetha
AU - Al-Adawi, Samir
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
©
PY - 2021/11/3
Y1 - 2021/11/3
N2 - Abstract Background: With the unprecedented spread of the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, primary healthcare workers (PHCWs) are having to shoulder the increasing weight of this ongoing pandemic. Aims: This study explored the rate and covariates of depressive symptoms among PHCWs in the Muscat governorate. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 10 May to 10 June 2020 among PHCWs working in all primary healthcares across the Muscat governorate. Data on sociodemographic and risk factors of having at least one underlying physical health condition, a psychiatric history, family history of psychiatric disorders, and direct involvement with COVID-19 positive patients were sought. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was then used to solicit the presence of depressive symptoms. Those with a cutoff point ≥10 were considered as showing depressive symptoms. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors associated with depressive symptoms in PHCWs after adjusting for all sociodemographic factors. Findings: A total of 432 (72%) out of 600 PHCWs with an average age of 39.2 years (SD = 7.8 years) ranging between 25.0 and 75.0 years responded to the survey. There were more females (n = 281, 65.3%) than males, and more than 45% (n = 195) of them were physicians. Additionally, more than 78% (n = 338) had been in contact with COVID-19 patients. There was a significant association between different age groups and profession (PA <A.001), having at least one underlying physical health condition (P = 0.001) and depressive symptom status (P = 0.038). A total of 78 out of the 423 subjects (18.1%) were considered to have depressive symptoms. After adjusting for all factors, the logistic regression model showed that an age of 34 years or below (OR = 2.079, P = 0.021) and having at least one underlying physical health condition (OR = 2.216, P = 0.007) were factors contributing significantly to depressive symptoms among the PHCWs.
AB - Abstract Background: With the unprecedented spread of the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, primary healthcare workers (PHCWs) are having to shoulder the increasing weight of this ongoing pandemic. Aims: This study explored the rate and covariates of depressive symptoms among PHCWs in the Muscat governorate. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 10 May to 10 June 2020 among PHCWs working in all primary healthcares across the Muscat governorate. Data on sociodemographic and risk factors of having at least one underlying physical health condition, a psychiatric history, family history of psychiatric disorders, and direct involvement with COVID-19 positive patients were sought. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was then used to solicit the presence of depressive symptoms. Those with a cutoff point ≥10 were considered as showing depressive symptoms. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors associated with depressive symptoms in PHCWs after adjusting for all sociodemographic factors. Findings: A total of 432 (72%) out of 600 PHCWs with an average age of 39.2 years (SD = 7.8 years) ranging between 25.0 and 75.0 years responded to the survey. There were more females (n = 281, 65.3%) than males, and more than 45% (n = 195) of them were physicians. Additionally, more than 78% (n = 338) had been in contact with COVID-19 patients. There was a significant association between different age groups and profession (PA <A.001), having at least one underlying physical health condition (P = 0.001) and depressive symptom status (P = 0.038). A total of 78 out of the 423 subjects (18.1%) were considered to have depressive symptoms. After adjusting for all factors, the logistic regression model showed that an age of 34 years or below (OR = 2.079, P = 0.021) and having at least one underlying physical health condition (OR = 2.216, P = 0.007) were factors contributing significantly to depressive symptoms among the PHCWs.
KW - Key words: depressive symptoms
KW - PHQ-9
KW - novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic
KW - primary healthcare
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85118830237&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85118830237&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1463423621000335
DO - 10.1017/S1463423621000335
M3 - Article
C2 - 34728003
AN - SCOPUS:85118830237
SN - 1463-4236
VL - 22
JO - Primary Health Care Research and Development
JF - Primary Health Care Research and Development
IS - 4
M1 - 000335
ER -