ARTICLE
Health anxiety to COVID-19 virus infection and its relationship to quality of life in a sample of health care workers in Egypt: a cross-sectional study
1
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
2
2015-2016 Hubert H. Humphery fellowship, Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
Submission date: 2020-10-03
Acceptance date: 2020-11-08
Online publication date: 2021-04-02
Publication date: 2021-04-02
Corresponding author
Mohamed Abdelghani
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Arch Psych Psych 2021;23(1):19-28
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Aim of the study:
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are more prone to extraordinary fears of COVID -19 virus infection. This study aimed to explore the frequency and predictors of health anxiety to COVID-19 virus infection among HCWs and identify its relationship to their quality of life (QOL).
Subject or material and methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of HCWs in hospitals of Sharkia Province, Egypt from June 30 to July 16, 2020. A total of 218 HCWs were interviewed using the short health anxiety inventory (SHAI), Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and The World Health Organization Quality of Life – BREF (WHOQOL-BREF).
Results:
The frequency of health anxiety to COVID-19 virus among HCWs was 28%. Symptoms of depression, hostility, phobia and somatization, and history of chronic medical illnesses showed greater odds of health anxiety to COVID-19 virus (OR: 6.7, 9.1, 7.3, 7.7, and 12.6, respectively). Being physicians and the increased number of sleeping hours were less likely associated with health anxiety to COVID-19 virus (OR: 0.1 and 0.5, respectively). Health anxiety to COVID-19 virus was inversely correlated with all domains of QOL among HCWs.
Discussion:
The study findings were consistent with other previously conducted similar studies.
Conclusions:
Health anxiety to Covid-19 virus infection is common among HCWs, and it negatively affects their QOL.
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are more prone to extraordinary fears of COVID -19 virus infection. This study aimed to explore the frequency and predictors of health anxiety to COVID-19 virus infection among HCWs and identify its relationship to their quality of life (QOL).
Subject or material and methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of HCWs in hospitals of Sharkia Province, Egypt from June 30 to July 16, 2020. A total of 218 HCWs were interviewed using the short health anxiety inventory (SHAI), Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and The World Health Organization Quality of Life – BREF (WHOQOL-BREF).
Results:
The frequency of health anxiety to COVID-19 virus among HCWs was 28%. Symptoms of depression, hostility, phobia and somatization, and history of chronic medical illnesses showed greater odds of health anxiety to COVID-19 virus (OR: 6.7, 9.1, 7.3, 7.7, and 12.6, respectively). Being physicians and the increased number of sleeping hours were less likely associated with health anxiety to COVID-19 virus (OR: 0.1 and 0.5, respectively). Health anxiety to COVID-19 virus was inversely correlated with all domains of QOL among HCWs.
Discussion:
The study findings were consistent with other previously conducted similar studies.
Conclusions:
Health anxiety to Covid-19 virus infection is common among HCWs, and it negatively affects their QOL.
| eISSN: | 2083-828X |
| ISSN: | 1509-2046 |
Project no. RCN/SN/0189/2021/1 implemented from 2022 to 2024
Total value of the project: PLN 200 000
Amount funded by the MEiN: PLN 80 000
Aims of the project: Publication in Open Access mode on the Internet of 8 consecutive issues of the journal Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (years 2022-2024). Modernization and redesign of the journal’s website. Financing of the Editorial System. Copy editing and proofreading of journal issues. Counteracting scientific misinformation. Submission of electronic versions of the journal to the National Digital Library Polona and the Digital Library of Scientific Publications Academica.
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