Uncertainty regarding institutional support seems to have an anxiety-generating effect.
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Organizational factors seem to be contributing to anxiety in anesthesia providers.
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Anesthesia providers can provide care if deployed to a new area without experiencing anxiety.
Abstract
Background
The influence of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health has been widely studied; however, literature evaluating the mental health effects of the pandemic on small groups of people is scarce. We aim to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety levels of anesthesiology providers in an academic institution.
Materials and methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study including one hundred and five participants (Faculty anesthesiologists, anesthesia residents, certified registered and student nurse anesthetists). The generalized anxiety disorder questionnaire (GAD-7) was administered to participants.
Results
Approximately half of the 105 participants experienced various degrees of anxiety, with only 14.3% exhibiting moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety interfering with daily activities was reported in 54.9% of the participants. Anxiety-generating factors such as access to protective equipment and transmitting the disease to family members were identified.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with different degrees of anxiety. The prevalence of severe anxiety is relatively low, probably due to differential individual perceptions, feelings of invulnerability, and resilience of anesthesia providers.
