Background and Objectives : Frontline medical staff usually experience high levels of stress, which could greatly impact their work output. We conducted a survey to investigate the level of stress and its association with job types, work departments, and medical centers among COVID-19 pandemic frontline medical personnel. Materials and Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire among 307 frontline medical staff who cared for COVID-19 patients in Daegu city. We used a 33-item questionnaire to assess respondents’ general characteristics, job stress, personal effects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and their stress level. A general health questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) was included in our questionnaire. Results : Majority (74.3%) of the respondents were in the stress group. The mean GHQ-12 score was 14.31 ± 4.96. More females (67.4%, p < 0.05) and nurses (73.3%, p = 0.001) were in the stress group compared to males and doctors. Medical staff in the general ward considered the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic situation higher. Nurses perceived work changes ( p < 0.05), work burden ( p < 0.05), and personal impact ( p < 0.05) more serious than doctors. Medical staff in Level 3 emergency department (ED) perceived a lack of real-time information ( p = 0.012), a lack of resources, and negative personal impacts associated with the pandemic as more serious than staff in Level 1 and Level 2 EDs. Medical staff in the intensive care unit perceived work changes ( p < 0.05), work burden ( p < 0.05), and lack of personal protective equipment ( p = 0.002) as more serious than staff in the ED and general ward. Conclusion : Providing real-time information and resources for reducing work burden and negative personal impact is central to maximizing the work output of the COVID-19 pandemic frontline medical staff. Supporting their mental health through regular programs and intervention is also imperative.
【저자키워드】 mental health, COVID-19 pandemic, medical staff, stress anxiety, 【초록키워드】 Personal protective equipment, pandemic, intensive care, Stress, severity, Intervention, Health, Characteristics, Impact, male, female, information, resource, change, questionnaire, association, COVID-19 patient, Nurse, cross-sectional survey, level 1, level 2, level 3, material, GHQ-12, Effect, resources, objective, Result, lack, conducted, reducing, imperative, Providing, Supporting, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, city,