Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study

Hasan Nabil Al Houri; Abdullah Alhouri; Douaa Mohammad Nazir Arrouk; Ahmad Nabil Al Houri; Sami Jomaa; Alaa Sharabi; Hussein Kannout; Youssef Latifeh

doi:10.1186/s12991-023-00470-1

Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study

Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2023 Oct 16;22(1):41. doi: 10.1186/s12991-023-00470-1.

Authors

Hasan Nabil Al Houri¹, Abdullah Alhouri², Douaa Mohammad Nazir Arrouk³, Ahmad Nabil Al Houri⁴, Sami Jomaa⁵, Alaa Sharabi⁶, Hussein Kannout⁷, Youssef Latifeh⁸

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine Department, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria. hasan94alhouri94@gmail.com.
² Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, Nevill Hall Hospital, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Wales, UK.
³ Applied Statistics - Quantitative Methods, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
⁴ Diagnostic Radiology Department, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
⁶ Somaerian Health, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
⁷ Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as an expected source of stress and anxiety as the healthcare workers had to work for long hours in close contact with infected patients, thus increasing the probability of medical errors and threatening the patients' safety. This study aims to measure the levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress among Syrian healthcare workers and their quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in six central hospitals in Damascus, Syria. Data were collected from 1 to 30 June-2021. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers. Quality of life was assessed using the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index.

Results: A total of 700 participants were included in this study. 61.6% (n = 431) were males and 38.4% (n = 269) were females. Younger ages (18-29 years old) were significantly associated with higher levels of depression and stress (p < 0.0083). Female healthcare workers had higher significant levels of anxiety (p < 0.05). Significant anxiety and stress levels were reported when healthcare workers had contact with COVID-19 patients, even if they had protective equipment (p < 0.05). Half of the participants (50%; n = 349) reported a good quality of life.

Conclusion: Stress levels and depressive symptoms were remarkably higher in healthcare workers of ages 18 and 29 years old, whereas anxiety levels were significantly higher and more severe in female healthcare workers. Moreover, direct interaction with COVID-19 patients was associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety symptoms.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Healthcare workers; Stress; Syria.