Exploring anxiety levels among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study at Antalya Kepez State Hospital

The Covid-19 pandemic has created uncertainty in our daily lives as an unforeseeable and unknown threat, particularly triggering fears and anxieties among frontline healthcare workers. This situation exemplifies how epidemic diseases can deeply affect individuals and societies, leading to chronic anxiety, mood disorders, and psychosocial problems. This research conducted at Antalya Kepez State Hospital aims to examine the anxiety levels of healthcare workers during the Covid-19 period and the socio-demographic characteristics affecting these levels, such as age, gender, marital status, education, and professional position. Analyses conducted using a descriptive survey design and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory have revealed that healthcare workers' anxiety levels span a broad spectrum, with notably high situational anxiety among doctors working in clinics, services, and operating rooms. Furthermore, working in different units related to the pandemic, concerns about transmitting the disease to close contacts, and factors like increased workload and working hours have been observed to elevate anxiety levels. These results emphasize the need for psychosocial support for healthcare workers during the pandemic, highlighting that lack of protective equipment and experiences of social stigma are significant factors affecting anxiety levels. The research underlines the importance of developing strategies to understand and support the psychosocial needs of healthcare workers during and after the pandemic, underscoring the need for trained personnel and emergency public health plans to address potential problems in epidemic situations.