Cross-Sectional study of the overall emotional functioning of health-care providers in Saudi

Background: Health-care professionals work long hours, handle demanding patient loads, and make important decisions under conditions of uncertainty. These uncertain conditions have been shown to be associated with negative emotional and psychological outcomes for health-care professionals. In addition, they have been shown to lead to anxiety, depression, and other psychological and interpersonal strains, ultimately compromising the quality of patient care. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mental health issues of health-care providers including anxiety, depression, behavioral control, positive effect, and general distress. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to health-care providers working at governmental and private health sectors in Saudi Arabia from January to April 2016. The questionnaire included a demographic survey and the Mental Health Inventory. Forty-five (45%) staff members completed the questionnaire. Results: Health-care professionals scored higher within the psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and loss of behavioral emotional control domains, indicating greater psychological distress. Females scored more on the depression domain than male participants. Further, physicians scored higher on the general positive effect domain than other health-care providers. Non-Saudi health-care providers scored higher on psychological distress scale than Saudi participants. Multiple regression analysis indicated that general positive effect, emotional ties, and life satisfaction were predictors of psychological well-being; on the other hand, anxiety, depression, and loss of behavioral/emotional control were predictors of psychological distress. Conclusion: High psychological distress may result from stressors associated with high work demands, workload, staff shortage, fear of infection, licensing board, fear of losing job, fear of reaction from leadership, peer, and patients and their families. Implication for Nursing Policy: Organizational supportive programs should be developed to enhance the psychological well-being of health-care professionals. These programs may decrease staff stress, anxiety, and depression and contribute to improve psychological well-being.