Fear of COVID-19 and its Impact on Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention among Egyptian Physicians

Abd-Ellatif, Eman Elsayed; Anwar, Manal Mohamed; AlJifri, Abobakr Alawi; El Dalatony, Mervat Mohamed

INTRODUCTION: The risk of experiencing psychiatric symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic is high among health care workers whose occupations are in public health, emergency medicine, and intensive or critical care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‐sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of fear of COVID-19 among 411 frontline Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemic; identify determinants & predictors for fear of COVID-19; determine the impact of fear of COVID-19 on job satisfaction; and detect the impact of fear of COVID-19 on turnover intention. Three standardized scales (fear of COVID-19, job satisfaction and turnover intention scores) were used for data collection via online google form. RESULTS: Regarding fear relating to COVID-19 pandemic; 16.5% of the study subjects were classified as experiencing a severe fear level, while 78.1% experienced a moderate degree. A significant association between the level of fear relating to COVID-19 and work department. The highest degree of fear is in a general-educational-university facility. Regarding job satisfaction; 42% of those having severe level of fear are dissatisfied. Fear of COVID-19 is negatively associated with job satisfaction while positively significant correlated with turnover scores; positive significant predictor of turnover intention. Job satisfaction is negatively associated with turnover intention; a negative significant predictor of turnover intention. CONCLUSIONS: Frontline Egyptian physicians reported higher levels of fear relating to COVID-19 pandemic (moderate to severe). Increased fear levels relating to COVID-19 have a relationship with lower levels of job satisfaction and higher levels of job turnover.