Mahmoud, N., Zeid, W., Alsabahy, K., Ezzeldeen, E. (2021). Fear of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) among Egyptian Physicians. Suez Canal University Medical Journal, 24(2), 193-200. doi: 10.21608/scumj.2021.196531
Nadia Mahmoud; Wael Zeid; Khalid Alsabahy; Eman Ezzeldeen. "Fear of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) among Egyptian Physicians". Suez Canal University Medical Journal, 24, 2, 2021, 193-200. doi: 10.21608/scumj.2021.196531
Mahmoud, N., Zeid, W., Alsabahy, K., Ezzeldeen, E. (2021). 'Fear of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) among Egyptian Physicians', Suez Canal University Medical Journal, 24(2), pp. 193-200. doi: 10.21608/scumj.2021.196531
Mahmoud, N., Zeid, W., Alsabahy, K., Ezzeldeen, E. Fear of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) among Egyptian Physicians. Suez Canal University Medical Journal, 2021; 24(2): 193-200. doi: 10.21608/scumj.2021.196531
Fear of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) among Egyptian Physicians
Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt
Abstract
Background:The pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has affected every aspect of our life. Fear of the corona virus may trigger safety measures. However, when fear is exaggerated, it may result in maladaptive behaviors. Physicians are among the high-risk groups of infection. They may have more psychological burden and behavioral changes.Aim:To assess the fear of COVID-19 among Egyptian physicians. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was developed. A free software google form was used to send the questionnaire and the informed consent. A convenient sample was used to recruit participants. A total of 382 Egyptian clinical physicians completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic variables and the fear of COVID-19 Scale. Results: Female physicians were found to have significantly higher fear score compared to males (p=0.012). Moreover, physicians who had observed higher number of COVID-19 patients per week had significantly higher fear score (p < 0.001). In our sample, there was negative correlation between age and Fear of COVID-19 scores among the studied physicians. Conclusion: The pandemic of COVID-19 is associated with significant fear among Egyptian physicians, especially females. Specific interventions are needed to prevent irrational fear during COVID-19 pandemic among Egyptian physicians.