Healthcare Workers’ SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Uncertainty-Related Stress, Resilience, and Coping Strategies during the First Week of the World Health Organization’s Alert

Mohamad-Hani Temsah, Shuliweeh Alenezi, Mohammed Alarabi, Fadi Aljamaan, Khalid Alhasan, Rasha Assiri, Rolan Bassrawi, Fatimah Alshahrani, Ali Alhaboob, Ali Alaraj, Nasser S. Alharbi, Abdulkarim Alrabiaah, Rabih Halwani, Amr Jamal, Naif Abdulmajeed, Lina Alfarra, Wafa Almashdali, Ayman Al-Eyadhy, Fahad AlZamil, Sarah Alsubaie, Mazin Barry, Ziad A. Memish and Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq
Additional contact information
Mohamad-Hani Temsah: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Shuliweeh Alenezi: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Alarabi: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Fadi Aljamaan: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Khalid Alhasan: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Rasha Assiri: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
Rolan Bassrawi: Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Fatimah Alshahrani: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Ali Alhaboob: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Ali Alaraj: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
Nasser S. Alharbi: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Abdulkarim Alrabiaah: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Rabih Halwani: Sharjah Institute of Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Amr Jamal: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Naif Abdulmajeed: Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Lina Alfarra: Department of Ob-Gyn, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Mishari Hospital, Riyadh 12241, Saudi Arabia
Wafa Almashdali: Department of Ob-Gyn, Dr. Fatina Imran Medical Complex, Doha 233, Qatar
Ayman Al-Eyadhy: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Fahad AlZamil: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Sarah Alsubaie: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Mazin Barry: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
Ziad A. Memish: King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health & Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq: Specialty Internal Medicine and Quality Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 34465, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Background: As the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant emerged and spread globally at an alarming speed, healthcare workers’ (HCWs) uncertainties, worries, resilience, and coping strategies warranted assessment. The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe psychological impact on HCWs, including the development of Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms. Specific subgroups of HCWs, such as front-line and female workers, were more prone to poor mental health outcomes and difficulties facing stress. Methods: The responses to an online questionnaire among HCWs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) were collected from 1 December 2021 to 6 December 2021, aiming to assess their uncertainties, worries, resilience, and coping strategies regarding the Omicron variant. Three validated instruments were used to achieve the study’s goals: the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), the Standard Stress Scale (SSS), and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS)—Short Form. Results: The online survey was completed by 1285 HCWs. Females made up the majority of the participants (64%). A total of 1285 HCW’s completed the online survey from all regions in KSA. Resilient coping scored by the BRCS was negatively and significantly correlated with stress as scored by the SSS (r = −0.313, p < 0.010). Moreover, intolerance of uncertainty scored by the IUS positively and significantly correlated with stress (r = 0.326, p < 0.010). Increased stress levels were linked to a considerable drop in resilient coping scores. Furthermore, being a Saudi HCW or a nurse was linked to a significant reduction in resilient coping ratings. Coping by following healthcare authorities’ preventative instructions and using the WHO website as a source of information was linked to a considerable rise in resilient coping. Conclusions: The negative association between resilient coping and stress was clearly shown, as well as how underlying intolerance of uncertainty is linked to higher stress among HCWs quickly following the development of a new infectious threat. The study provides early insights into developing and promoting coping strategies for emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Keywords: COVID-19 uncertainties among HCWs; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Omicron variant; worries; healthcare workers’ resilience; pandemic coping strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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