PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Riaz, Babar
AU  - Rafai, Wajid A
AU  - Ussaid, Ahmad
AU  - Masood, Atif
AU  - Anwar, Sohail
AU  - Baig, Faisal A
AU  - Saleem, Khurram
AU  - Nasir, Shumaila A
AU  - Firdous, Zaima
AU  - Iqbal, Farrukh
TI  - The psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers in Pakistan
AID  - 10.7861/fhj.2020-0193
DP  - 2021 Jul 01
TA  - Future Healthcare Journal
PG  - e293--e298
VI  - 8
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/8/2/e293.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/8/2/e293.full
SO  - Future Healthc J2021 Jul 01; 8
AB  - Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals' stamina and wellbeing. This study examines the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals.Methods This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2020 after institutional review board approval at a tertiary care institution in Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 175 healthcare workers participated following an online Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire invitation and 41 were excluded following pre-existing mental health conditions. Data was analysed using MS Excel and SPSS Amos 23. Chi-squared test and regression were applied for comparison and impact of confounding variables respectively (p<0.05 was considered significant).Results Out of 134, 66 (49%) were doctors, 24 (18%) were nurses and 44 (33%) were non-medical professionals. Ninety-five (70%) with age 21–30 years. Male to female ratio was 2:1. Overall mean depression score accounted for 6.89 ± 6.64; anxiety score was 7.28 ± 6.74 and stress score was 8.83 ± 6.93. Mild depression, anxiety and stress was noted in 21 (15.6%), eight (6%) and 27 (20.1%) healthcare workers, respectively. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was observed among healthcare workers for depression, anxiety and stress.Conclusion This study demonstrated considerable impact of COVID-19 on mental health of healthcare workers. A well-structured targeted mental health support programme is needed urgently to support and reduce the long-term impact on healthcare workers' mental health and wellbeing.