Quality of sleep and health-related quality of life among health care professionals treating patients with coronavirus disease-19

Background: Health care professionals exposed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are facing high levels of stress. Aim: The aim was to evaluate the quality of sleep (QoS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), among health care professionals treating patients with COVID-19, as well as quantifying the magnitude of symptoms of depression and levels of anxiety. Methods: We included 201 health care professionals in a cross-sectional, web-based study by applying 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) Scale, Zung Self-rating Depression Scale, 36-item Health Survey of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF36), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and additional survey constructed for the purpose of the study. Results: Health care workers who treated COVID-19 patients were more afraid of becoming infected or of transmitting the infection to a family member with a significantly low self-assessment of their mental status. Poor QoS and HRQoL correlated with high health anxiety and severe depressive symptoms and several demographic characteristics. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher scores on GAD-7 (beta = .71,p < .01) and lower scores on mental health (MH) subscale on SF36 questionnaire (beta = -.69;p < .01) were independent predictors of the higher PSQI score (adjustedR(2) = .61,p < .01 for overall model). Higher scores on GAD-7 (beta = .68,p < .01) and worse self-perceived mental status (beta = .25;p < .05) were independent predictors of the lower SF36 scores (adjustedR(2) = .73,p < .01 for overall model). Conclusion: The major MH burden of health care professionals treating infected patients during the COVID-19 pandemic indicates that they need psychological support.

Automated summary

Health care professionals treating COVID-19 patients experience high levels of stress and anxiety, leading to poor quality of sleep and health-related quality of life. The study highlights the need for psychological support for these professionals to cope with the mental health burden during the pandemic.