Factors Affecting Psychological Health of Hospital Staff and Coping Behaviour During the COVID 19 Pandemic: A Cross Sectional Study from A Tertiary Care Hospital in Pune

Background and objectives: The Covid -19 pandemic spread rapidly in India by June 2020 with Maharashtra accounting for the highest number of cases that challenged the physical and psychological wellbeing of health care workers (HCWs). This study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Pune, explored factors associated with stress and health among Hospital staff and their coping behaviours. This was to identify barriers faced by them in providing health care and devise strategies to improve health care quality during pandemics in future. Methods: Questionnaires eliciting personal and demographic details, social experiences, infection related questions, barriers faced by Hospital staff in care giving and that on psychological states of 2941 Hospital staff were administered during the peak phase of the first wave of the pandemic. Results: Being in close contact with Covid -19 positive patients, age, gender, being a nurse, having to travel to place of work, relocation of self or family, comorbidity among family members, loss of income, poor knowledge about the pandemic, lack of exercise and poor participation in sports triggered negative emotions among Hospital staff. Interpretation and conclusions: The study underlines the importance of interventions at the organisational level that include a conducive work environment that supports hospital staff  by periodic evaluation of the problems they face, creating awareness and support groups for women and their families, continuing education on prevention of infections among hospital staff, provision of need based psychological support and focus on exercise and sports based services for hospital staff and their families.