Anxiety among otolaryngology residents during the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A descriptive cross-sectional study

• Main Authors: Hessah Saad Alsayahi (Author), Abdulaziz Yousef Alturki (Author), Nouf Mohammed Almansour (Author), Zuhour Abdullah Alqahtani (Author), Hatim Ibrahim Alassaf (Author), Arwa Mohammad Alabdulsalam (Author), Aseel Abdulkarim Alfahhad (Author), Roba Mohsin Altameem (Author), Fahad Z Alotaibi (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2589-627X; 2589-6288; 10.4103/JNSM.JNSM_90_20
• Keywords: anxiety; coronavirus disease of 2019; otolaryngology residents; saudi arabia; Medicine; R; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Journal of Nature and Science of Medicine, Vol 4, Iss 2, Pp 148-153 (2021)

Background: Otolaryngologists are among the health professionals most commonly working on the front lines against coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). They are at high risk of exposure, as well as physical and psychological stress. Nevertheless, the psychological influence of working during the pandemic still needs to be explored. Objective: This study aims to assess the anxiety symptoms among otolaryngology residents in Saudi Arabia during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study was carried out via a survey sent to otolaryngology residents in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire collected demographic data and included questions using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale to evaluate the residents' anxiety toward working during the pandemic. Data analysis was conducted using R v 3.6.2. Results: Ninety-three otolaryngology residents completed the online questionnaire with a response rate of 42.5%. Of them, 30.1% had been in contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients. More than two-thirds of the respondents (68.8%) suffered from anxiety based on the GAD-7 scale; in the results, 45.2% had mild anxiety, 12.9% had moderate anxiety, and 10.8% had severe anxiety. Almost 24% of the respondents suffered from anxiety with a score of 10 or greater on the GAD-7 used as a cutoff point. Anxiety was more prevalent in married residents compared with single ones (18.9% vs. 5.45%, P = 0.002). In addition, it was prevalent in 40% of smokers compared with 5.13% of nonsmokers (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Anxiety levels among otolaryngology residents were high during the COVID-19 pandemic.