RESEARCH ARTICLE European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences www.ejmed.org DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24018/ejmed.2023.5.4.1771 Vol 5 | Issue 4 | July 2023 11 I. INTRODUCTION AND THE RATIONALE OF THE STUDY The COVID-19 pandemic, which started in 2019, is an unprecedented global public health crisis [1]. One crucial aspect of the public health response is to provide support for the mental well-being of healthcare providers. Since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and the United Nations' declaration of a coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, more than 2,081,917 people worldwide have been infected with the virus. As a result of the pandemic, healthcare staff has faced various psychological stressors, putting them at risk of developing traumatic and other anxiety disorders. The Psychological Impact and Associated Factors of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Care Providers at Chainama Psychiatry Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia Evans Musonda, Petro Petlovanyi, Anatolii Tsarkov, Crecious Phiri, Gabriel Mpundu, Erick Musala Kunda, Rhoda Kunda, Fabian Lungu, and Nathan Kamanga ABSTRACT Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious psychological consequences for healthcare providers at a higher risk of exposure to heavy workloads and a high-risk environment. Healthcare providers on the front lines, involved in diagnosing, treating, and caring for patients with COVID- 19, were particularly vulnerable to developing psychological distress and other mental health symptoms, including emotional disturbance. Objective: In response to this critical situation, this study aims to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 and associated factors on healthcare providers at Chainama Hills College Hospital (CHCH) in Lusaka, Zambia. The findings of this study may inform interventions and support programs to mitigate the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare providers and improve their overall well-being. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted in a hospital setting using a self-administered questionnaire survey between August 1st and 10th, 2021. A total of 194 healthcare providers were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The survey used the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess the psychological well-being of the participants. Results: Our study findings indicate that healthcare providers are experiencing a high level of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a Stress score of 92.0, which is considered significant under the circumstances. Additionally, the healthcare providers exhibited mild levels of depression and anxiety, with DASS-21 scores of 13.0 and 12, respectively. These findings were at a 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of prioritizing the well-being of healthcare providers. With the heightened demands and stressors associated with caring for patients during a pandemic, we must prioritize the mental and physical health needs of healthcare providers. Providing adequate support, resources, and attention to the well-being of healthcare providers can help to prevent burnout, reduce turnover, and improve patient outcomes. By recognizing the importance of caring for our healthcare providers, we can help to ensure the delivery of high-quality healthcare services during such challenging times. Keywords: Anxiety, COVID-19, depression, health screening, mental health, physician burnout, workplace stress. Submitted : April 16, 2023 Published : July 4, 2023 ISSN: 2593-8339 DOI: 10.24018/ejmed.2023.5.4.1771 E. Musonda School of Medicine and Clinical Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU), Lusaka, Zambia; Chainama Hills College Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. P. Petlovanyi Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Zambia (UNZA), Lusaka, Zambia. A. Tsarkov* Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Zambia (UNZA), Lusaka, Zambia. (e-mail: anatoliydoc gmail.com) C. Phiri School of Public Health and Environmental Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU), Lusaka, Zambia. G. Mpundu Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. E. M. Kunda School of Nursing, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU), Lusaka, Zambia. R. Kunda School of Nursing, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU), Lusaka, Zambia. F. Lungu School of Public Health and Environmental Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU), Lusaka, Zambia. N. Kamanga Department of Public Health, School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Lusaka (UNILUS), Lusaka, Zambia. *Corresponding Author @