@article{ref1,
title="Depression and suicidal ideation in a sample of Malaysian healthcare workers: a preliminary study during the CoViD-19 pandemic",
journal="Frontiers in psychiatry",
year="2021",
author="Sahimi, Hajar Mohd Salleh and Mohd Daud, Tuti Iryani and Chan, Lai Fong and Shah, Shamsul Azhar and Rahman, Farynna Hana Ab and Nik Jaafar, Nik Ruzyanei",
volume="12",
number="",
pages="658174-658174",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The burden of suicidal behavior is anticipated to increase as a sequela of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited evidence on suicidal behavior among healthcare workers, an at-risk population. Our study aimed to investigate suicidal ideation in terms of the rate and associated factors in a sample of Malaysian healthcare workers during the early-phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. <br><br>METHODS: A subpopulation analysis (N = 171) was conducted within a larger, nation-wide cross-sectional study of Malaysian healthcare worker psychological distress from March 18-21, 2020. Current suicidal ideation was measured with item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The following independent variables were assessed: socio-demographic profile, occupation and service-related factors, health-anxiety (Health Anxiety Inventory, HAI), lifetime anxiety disorder and severity of depression (PHQ-9). <br><br>RESULTS: The proportion of healthcare workers with current suicidal ideation (19/171) and clinical depression (17/171) were 11.1 and 9.9%, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that clinical depression was the most significant factor associated with current suicidal ideation (p < 0.001, OR = 55.983, 95% CI = 9.015-347.671) followed by mild (subthreshold) depression (p = 0.001, OR = 115.984, 95% CI = 2.977-85.804). Service duration of more than 10 years was associated with significantly less suicidal ideation (p = 0.049, OR = 0.072, 95% CI = 0.005-0.993). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Depression (subthreshold and especially within the clinical range) and early-career status (<10 years in service) may be target areas of early intervention for reduction of suicidal ideation amongst healthcare workers who have served during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is warranted to elucidate specific occupational stressors related to COVID-19 work conditions to tailor appropriate suicide preventive strategies in this population.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1664-0640",
doi="10.3389/fpsyt.2021.658174",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.658174"
}