Anxiety Symptoms in Healthcare Workers and Their Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey

Aim: Infectious disease outbreaks not only affect the physical health of patients but also affect the psychological health and well-being of the uninfected population. High rates of psychiatric symptoms and stress are observed in the general population in COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare workers (HCWs) reported higher-risk perception and anxiety level. We aimed to evaluate the anxiety levels of HCWs and their children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey.Materials and Methods: A total of 121 HCWs and 121 HCWs’ children aged 8-17 were included from 23 different cities to assess the anxiety level of them during the COVID-19 pandemic by using an online questionnaire. The Beck Anxiety Inventory and the parent Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) were applied to all the HCWs. The child SCARED which has a self-report scale for children of the HCWs had completed. COVID-19 Pandemic Questionnaire was applied to determine stress levels and lifestyle changes.Results: All of the HCWs had mild to severe anxiety, about 17% reported moderate and 27% reported severe anxiety severity. 40 (33.06%) children were over cut-off for total score in both SCARED the parents and the child version. Children anxiety showed a positive correlation with Beck Anxiety Inventory and COVID-19 Pandemic Questionnaire (<0.001).Conclusion:The current study found that HCWs and their children experienced a high level of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic. It was detected that a positive correlation between HCWs and their children’s anxiety

Anxiety states and knowledge of COVID-19 among pregnant women during the pandemic in Turkey – a cross-sectional study

Introduction. Infectious outbreaks have negative effects not only on the physical health of the society but also on the mental health. Aim. To evaluate the anxiety states and knowledge of COVID-19 during the pandemic in pregnant women. Material and methods. Cross-sectional study conducted in a university hospital in Turkey. A total of 199 pregnant women were included in the study. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), two questionnaires to evaluate the knowledge about COVID-19, and COVID-19-related anxiety were applied to all the women. Results. The highest level of COVID-19-related anxieties were about their spouses or newborns contracting COVID-19, effects of drugs on fetus and contracting COVID-19 during delivery. There was a negative correlation between gestational week and the questionnaire of COVID-19-related anxieties (r=-0.152, p=0.037). STAI total score was 76.48±14.11, and STAI-T scores (42.39±7.66) were higher than STAI-S scores (34.09±8.77). Although their general knowledge about the disease was relatively good, their level of knowledge on issues that pertained specifically to pregnancy was low. Conclusion. These findings indicated more than four months had passed since the pandemic came to the country but, pregnant women were very worried and did not have enough information about the diseas

Impact of antimicrobial drug restrictions on doctors' behaviors

Background/aim: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics. Materials and methods: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption. The questionnaire was completed by each participating physician. Results: A total of 1906 specialists from 20 cities in Turkey participated in the study. Of those who participated, 1271 (67.5%) had &amp;#8804;5 years of occupational experience (junior specialists = JSs) and 942 (49.4%) of them were physicians. Specialists having &gt;5 years of occupational experience in their branch expressed that they followed the antibiotic guidelines more strictly than the JSs (P &lt; 0.05) and 755 of physicians (88%) and 720 of surgeons (84.6%) thought that the AR policy was necessary and useful (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that the AR policy was supported by most of the specialists. Physicians supported this restriction policy more so than surgeons did.Background/aim: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics. Materials and methods: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption. The questionnaire was completed by each participating physician. Results: A total of 1906 specialists from 20 cities in Turkey participated in the study. Of those who participated, 1271 (67.5%) had &amp;#8804;5 years of occupational experience (junior specialists = JSs) and 942 (49.4%) of them were physicians. Specialists having &gt;5 years of occupational experience in their branch expressed that they followed the antibiotic guidelines more strictly than the JSs (P &lt; 0.05) and 755 of physicians (88%) and 720 of surgeons (84.6%) thought that the AR policy was necessary and useful (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that the AR policy was supported by most of the specialists. Physicians supported this restriction policy more so than surgeons did