COVID-19 pandemic-related stress level and coping strategies in healthcare professionals from the designated referral hospital in Warsaw, Poland
Anna Barczak1, Helena Bulińska-Stangrecka2, Beata Hintze3, Małgorzata Lankiewicz-Serafin4, Dariusz A. Kosior5, Małgorzata Dorobek4

Objective: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many healthcare workers had to face challenging and stressful situations. High-stress levels caused by the expected risk of contracting the disease can lead to severe mental disorders. We aimed to identify the stress level caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and coping strategies among staff from the designated referral hospital in Warsaw, Poland. Materials and methods: Data collected from 189 participants (152 females) including physicians, nurses, orderlies, and other medical and non-medical staff from various departments. Detailed analyses were performed based on the data of 54 physicians and 54 nurses with a mean age of 43.81 years (standard deviation, SD 11.57). The Perceived Stress Scale-10 was used to measure the stress levels, and the Brief COPE Inventory was employed to assess coping strategies. Results: Most participants experienced medium stress levels (57.4%), and one-third were severely stressed. In general, obtaining emotional support and acceptance was linked to lower stress levels. Behavioural disengagement and venting increased stress levels, mainly in nurses, who failed to implement any positive strategy, unlike doctors who used positive reframing, acceptance, and self-blame. Conclusions: Perceived stress levels depend on the occupation of healthcare professionals. An acceptance and positive reframing help cope with stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing emotional support and encouraging the implementation of other effective strategies is of key importance, as using non-adaptive strategies is a risk factor for mental health issues.