INVESTIGATION OF COVID-19 ANXIETY LEVELS OF PHYSICIANS

Sedat Özbay; Mustafa Ayan

doi:10.7197/cmj.1291307

EN

INVESTIGATION OF COVID-19 ANXIETY LEVELS OF PHYSICIANS

Abstract

Background:The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale is a self-reported scanning tool used to detect dysfunctional anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, our aim was to determine the anxiety levels of members of the Medical Chamber of the Sivas and Erzincan provinces of Turkey during the pandemic. Methods:The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale questionnaire was e-mailed to members of the Sivas-Erzincan Medical Chamber. According to the scores obtained from the questionnaire, the participants were divided into two groups: those without anxiety (Group 1) and those with anxiety (Group 2). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare two independent groups for continuous data, and Pearson’s chi-square test was used for frequency data. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Anxiety was present in 10.9% of the 337 physicians who participated in the survey. The anxiety rate in women (17.6%) was statistically significantly higher than that of men (7.9%) (p<0.05). We did not detect any association between marital status or having children and anxiety (p>0.05). There was also no statistically significant difference between the education levels of physicians (job titles) and their anxiety rates. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately one-tenth of our member physicians experienced anxiety. Anxiety rates were higher in women and those who received psychiatric support during the pandemic.

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