Document Type
Article
Department
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
Objective: This study was conducted to explore factors that can impact psychological health and coping strategies to help health care professionals (HCPs) to perform their duties.
Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted using structured questionnaire electronically shared with the participants after ethical approval. Descriptive statistics were calculated for socio demographic variables. Chi squared χ2 test was used to compare the responses between different groups of HCPs.
Results: Survey was completed by 250 participants. They performed their duties diligently during outbreak but were concerned about their safety, had fear of infecting themselves and their family members. Lack of evidence-based guidelines for patient management, news about pandemic situation through media and to deal with uncooperative patients not willing for quarantine added to their stress. receiving honour and respect from general public in recognition of services, monetary benefit, adequate training to treat COVID-19, provision of personal protective equipment from government were reported as coping strategies for psychological impact.
Conclusions: COVID-19 outbreak had psychological impact on HCPs, yet they continued to perform their duties carefully as moral obligation. Continued moral with financial support and acknowledgement of their services by government, organization and general public was reported to have psychological benefit.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences
Recommended Citation
Noreen, K.,
Umar, M.,
Sabir, S. A.,
Rehman, R.
(2020). Outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) in Pakistan: Psychological impact and coping strategies of health care professionals. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 36(7), 1478-1483.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_bbs/890
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.