Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are in contact with patients afflicted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The high communicability of COVID-19 and its different challenges cause varying levels of anxiety for HCWs. The aim of this study was to assess the predictors of state and trait anxiety among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2021-2022. Participants were 628 HCWs purposively recruited from educational hospitals in Iran. Data were collected through a demographic and occupational characteristics questionnaire and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory and were analyzed through the SPSS software (v. 23.0). RESULTS: Most participants were female (70.8%), married (67.4%), and nurses (69.7%), and had a bachelor's degree (64.0%). The means of their age and clinical work experience were 34.69 ± 6.28 years and 9.22 ± 3.98 years, respectively. Most participants suffered from moderate to very severe state (91.7%) and trait (81.2%) anxiety. The mean scores of state and trait anxiety had significant relationship with gender and employment type (p < 0.05) and the mean score of state anxiety had significant relationship with marital status and work shift (p < 0.05). Employment type and work shift significantly predicted 15% of the total variance of the mean score of state anxiety. CONCLUSION: Most HCWs in Iran suffered from moderate to very severe state and trait anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strong psychological support is essential for HCWs during epidemics.