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ISSN 2063-5346
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MENTAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS OF NURSES, LABORATORY STAFF AND PARAMEDICS DURING THE CORONA PANDEMIC

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Nada Hamdan Awwadh Althobaiti, Bader Ghazai Ghazi Alotaibi, Faisal Saleh Rashad Alotaibi, Ali Nafe Alkatheri, Fawaz Break Nagaa Alotaibi, Naif Baket Gaeb Algasami, Mansour Balud Kulaib Alotaibi, Ahmed Baijan Mater Almutairi, Mohammed Ghazzi Marzoq Alotaib, Ahmed Sannat Aziz Alotaibi
» doi: 10.53555/ecb/2023.12.5.525

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an increased mental burden has been widely reported among medical health workers such as physicians ,nurses. laboratory technicians and paramedics. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of psychological symptoms among laboratory technicians, nurses and analyze potential risk factors associated with these symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was performed via the Enjoining platform (a pro fissional online questionnaire platform) (https://www.wjx.cn/mobile/statnew.aspx) to invest gate the mental health of laboratory technicians during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hebei, China from October 4, 2021, to November 3, 2021. The online questionnaire included demographic and occupational characteristics data of responders, and the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL90- R)was used to quantify the magnitude of psychological symptoms among laboratory technicians. Participants’ demographic and occupational characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistical analyses. Chi-square tests were applied to compare the severity of each symptom be tween two or more groups. A binary logistic regression model was developed to identify the predictors of laboratory technicians’ mental health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and outcomes are presented as odds ratios and 95% confidence interval. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21 (SPSS, New Orchard Road, Armonk, New York, USA). Results: A total of 3081 valid questionnaires were collected. Of these 3081 participants, 338 (11.0%) reported a total SCL90-R score >160, which indicated positive psychological symptoms. Among the 338 participants who reported psychological problems, most of them were mild symptoms. Several factors associated with mental health problems in laboratory technicians during COVID-19 were found, which include a history of physical and/or psychological problems (all 10 symptoms p < 0.001), more than 10 years of work experience (depression symptoms: OR = 2.350, p = 0.024; anxiety symptoms: OR = 2.642, p = 0.038), frontline work (depression symptoms: OR = 1.761, p = 0.001; anxiety symptoms: OR = 2.619, p < 0.001; hostility symptoms: OR = 1.913, p = 0.001), participant in more than 3 times large-scale SARS-CoV-2 screenings and more than 36 h per week in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing. Conclusion: A portion of laboratory technicians reported experiencing varying levels of psycho logical burden. During the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple interventions should be developed and implemented to address existing psychosocial challenges and promote the mental health of lab oratory technicians and nurses.

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