Stress, anxiety and depression in healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients in the Republic of Buryatia

Relevance. In the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers face professional risks, as they work under increased work-load with an unprecedented number of critically ill patients, an often unpredictable course of the disease, high mortality rates, the need to wear personal protective equipment and the associated physiological discomfort, the need for advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of a new coronavirus infection, stigmatization and fear of infecting oneself and loved ones, which causes mental health problems ‒ stress, anxiety and depressive disorders. Objective of the study: to assess the manifestations of stress, anxiety and depression in medical workers providing care to patients with COVID-19 in the Re-public of Buryatia. Materials and Methods. 108 medical workers (48 doctors, 39 nurses, 21 junior medical workers) took part in an anonymous non-selective survey, providing care to patients with COVID-19 in the Republic of Buryatia. Symp-toms of stress and anxiety were assessed according to the Russian version of the Stress and Anxiety during a viral epidemic scale ‒ a 9-item questionnaire (SAVE-9) for medical personnel, anxiety and depressive manifestations ‒ according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results. According to the SAVE-9 scale, respondents often or constantly worried that family members or friends would get infected from them (30.6%), that they could get infected themselves (25.9%), that colleagues will have more work because of their absence from work due to possible quarantine, which col-leagues can blame for the increased workload (20.4%). Among the surveyed medical workers, there was a high level of anxiety (36.1%) and depressive (38.9%) symptoms according to the HADS scale. Conclusion. For the individualization of treatment, rehabilitation and preventive measures, medical workers who provide assistance to patients with COVID-19 in the Republic of Buryatia, it is necessary to clarify the role in the occurrence of stressful, anxiety and depressive symptoms of indicators such as gender, age, nationality, the presence of a postponed new coronavirus infection.