Depression and fatigue among Egyptian health care workers: cross-sectional survey

Aim: In recent years, the mental health requirements of healthcare professionals have drawn attention as a significant public health issue and a danger to the provision of high-quality care. Healthcare workers are subjected to multiple stressors at work, which may negatively affect their physical, mental, and emotional health. This study aims to assess the prevalence of depression and fatigue among Egyptian healthcare workers (HCWs) and to assess factors associated with depression and fatigue. Subject and methods: This cross-sectional survey used Google Form to build online questionnaires, including sociodemographic data, a 10-question fatigue assessment scale, and a depression assessment scale (PHQ-9 questionnaire). The study was conducted post-COVID-19 from November 28, 2022, to January 28, 2023. Results: The study involved 1511 Egyptian HCWs with a mean age of 37.4±7.7 years (range 26-71 years); 73% were female. Physicians constituted 77.8% of the participants. Mild depression was found in 26.1% of the participants, 26.8% reported moderate, and 43.1% had severe depressive symptoms. Fatigue symptoms were encountered in 88.7%. The independent factors affecting depression were female gender, single, living in a rural area, having a chronic disease, working > 8 h/day, being a public hospital worker, and studying for postgraduate degrees. Age of 35 years or younger, female gender, and studying for postgraduates were found to independently affect fatigue. Conclusion: Depression and fatigue are highly prevalent among Egyptian healthcare workers. Many factors related to the prevalence of depression and fatigue need to be considered to enhance the mental well-being of HCWs.