Mental stress of the spouses of the physicians working in COVID-19 dedicated tertiary public hospitals

Abstract

Background: In the COVID-19 pandemic spouses of the physicians were under a lot of stress. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the state of mental stress of the spouses of the physicians working in COVID-19 dedicated tertiary public hospitals. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 265 spouses of the physicians working in COVID-19 dedicated tertiary public hospitals. The study period was from 1st January to 31st December 2021. Respondents were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria and samples were taken by purposive sampling technique. Data were collected by face-to-face and telephone interview through pretested semi-structured questionnaires. To assess the state of mental stress, PSS (perceived stress scale) was used. Results: Among 265 respondents 38.5% were male and 61.5% were female. Among them 72.8% had children and 49.8% had senior citizens in their families. About 12.8% were neglected by friends, 66.84% faced disturbances in ensuring parenteral care to child, about 91.7% respondents had fear of being infected with COVID-19, 66.4% had problem with sleeping disorders, 37.4% had problem with memory loss, and 54.7% had trouble in making right decision. Among 265 respondents, level of mental stress of respondents by perceived stress scale, around 77.7% respondents were at the level of moderate stress, 10.6% were in low mental stress and 11.7% were in high mental stress. Statistically significant associations were found among gender of the respondents (p=0.039), respondents with having children (p=0.004) and having senior citizens (p=0.006), being neglected by friends (p=0.005), facing disturbance in ensuring parenteral care to child (p<0.0001), having any disturbance in conjugal life (p<0.0001), fear of being infected (p=0.007), sleeping disorder (p=0.001), memory loss (p<0.0001), making in right decision (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Majority of the spouses of the physicians were in moderate stress. So, counselling and support to physician, their family & community. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2023; 49: 157-163