The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychology of the Pharmacy School Stakeholders in Türkiye.

Objectives: The state of anxiety seen during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic needs to be evaluated and controlled. Studies indicate that high anxiety reduces students' academic performance. The productivity and scientific studies of academicians have also been negatively affected during the pandemic. Psychological conditions of students and academicians need to be improved as high anxiety levels can affect academic achievement. In this study, the effects on psychological well-being (PWB) of COVID-19 anxiety levels of students and academicians in pharmacy schools in Türkiye have been determined.

Materials and methods: This research was quantitative. As a data collection tool in the research, a questionnaire consisting of three parts was applied to the academic staff and students of pharmacy schools. After the first part of the questionnaire that aimed to determine general information, there were questions about the pandemic anxiety (PA) and the PWB scales. The universe of the study consists of 1.563 academic staff working in pharmacy schools and 17.101 students in these faculties. The level of significance (α) was determined as 0.05 in the analysis made in the study.

Results: Two hundred fortyseven academicians and 1.698 students participated in the research. Data was analyzed by SPSS ver. 25.0 program. 79% of the academic staff participating in the study were women, while 21% were men; for students, it was 77% and 23%, respectively. Female academicians found to have significantly higher (p=0.001) PA level than males. Female students had significantly higher levels of PA (p=0.000) and PWB (p=0.027) compared to male students.

Conclusion: In the study, PA of academicians was generally lower than students, while PWB was higher. When the relationship between PA and PWB was examined, the relationship between PA and PWB of the academicians was very low and positive; for the students, it was found to be very low and negative.