A Descriptive Study to Identify the Stressors of COVID-19 Frontline Workers

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 disease has caused a severe health crisis affecting millions of people. During this pandemic, frontline workers have experienced emotional exhaustion, which leads to a lack of empathy in treating patients, lower productivity, and higher turnover rates. The study identifies the stressors of COVID-19 frontline workers. Methodology: A descriptive quantitative survey was conducted among 200 nurses working in a tertiary care COVID-19-dedicated hospital using a convenient sampling technique by a self-developed questionnaire on stressors of COVID-19 frontline workers. Results: 75% of the frontline workers had moderate stress after working in COVID care units, whereas 24% had mild anxiety, and only 0.5% had severe anxiety. The subjects reported significant stress areas such as discomfort while working in Personal protective equipment, monetary loss due to increased family expenses during lockdown due to inflation, stigma and discrimination. Disturbance in the closed rooms due to lockdown, too much concern about passing infection from self to family, washing their hands repeatedly, which caused visible dry skin of their hands, and difficulty in performing COVID-19 duties due to lack of leave grant from the administration. Level of stress and training for psychological care were associated (p=) during COVID-19 duty. Conclusion: Frontline workers faced multiple stressors during COVID-19 duties, which could hamper their coping mechanisms and alter mental health hygiene. Early identification of these stressors and planning interventions could help reduce their adverse health implications.