A Retrospective Study for the Influence of Covid-19 Pandemic Preparedness on Healthcare Workers' Anxiety Levels at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi County-Kenya

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of pandemic preparedness and its impact on healthcare workers' mental well-being. Healthcare workers globally faced significant challenges, including inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), insufficient pandemic training, limited mental health support, and ineffective response protocols. This study examined the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and healthcare workers’ anxiety levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of institutional response strategies—including the Hospital Incident Management System, Infection Prevention and Control measures, and Human Resource-related interventions and the role of communication strategies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in influencing healthcare workers’ anxiety levels at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi County, Kenya. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, the study assessed the retrospective effects of pandemic preparedness on healthcare workers’ anxiety levels. A total of 258 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and laboratory personnel, participated, yielding a response rate of 92%. The findings revealed that during the pandemic, 31% of participants experienced severe anxiety, though this declined to 72.1% reporting minimal anxiety at the time of study. However, 34.3% still experienced mild to severe prolonged anxiety five years after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several pandemic preparedness measures were significantly associated with anxiety levels. The most significant measures included the presence of an emergency operations center and dedicated COVID-19 response teams, which were associated with lower anxiety levels. In contrast, frequent pandemic updates and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) were linked to increased anxiety among healthcare workers. Additionally, the task of separating suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases increased anxiety, whereas adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, trusted health information, and the monitoring and managing of exposed and infected healthcare staff reduced it. Surprisingly, access to psychological support and well-being programs was associated with increased anxiety. The increased use of psychological support services among healthcare workers likely reflected the severity of emotional distress during the pandemic, with barriers such as stigma, understaffing, and long working hour’s potentially limiting access to these essential services and leaving anxiety and stress unaddressed. These findings highlight the complex relationship between pandemic preparedness strategies and healthcare workers’ anxiety levels. While some interventions effectively mitigated anxiety, others unintentionally exacerbated it, emphasizing the need for a balanced and holistic approach to pandemic preparedness.