An Assessment of Anxiety About the Viral Epidemic and Work-Related
Stress in Family Physicians in Turkey: How does COVID-19 Vaccination
Affect Anxiety and Stress?
Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the extent of family
physicians’ anxiety about the viral epidemic and work-related stress
associated with the viral epidemic as well as examining the effects of
COVID-19 vaccination on such situations. Methods: The data collection
forms, including SAVE-9 scale in order to assessand examine the extent
of anxiety and stress, prepared for this cross-sectional study were
converted into an online questionnaire form and sent to the physicians
working as family physicians in different provinces of Turkey between
December 2020 - March 2021 via e-mails and communication groups. The
responses of 500 family physicians, who were accessible through this
method and volunteered to participate in the study, were recorded to be
analysed. Results: Of all the 500 family physicians in this study,
40.6% of them were found to be in a state of anxiety about the viral
epidemic. While there was a significant decline in the scores of anxiety
about the viral epidemic in the subgroup after vaccination, there was no
statistically significant change in work-related stress scores.
Conclusion: Family physicians have been suffering anxiety due to the
pandemic. The vaccination has a positive impact on anxiety.