Published 2025-11-10
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Abstract
Objective: The objective of this present study is to estimate the prevalence of depression and identify the risk and protective factors that may predispose or protect healthcare workers in the KSA from developing depression.
Methods: In order to estimate the prevalence of depression and assess awareness levels among healthcare workers at a particular moment in time, this study will use a quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional methodology.
Results: The study included 362 participants. The study included 362 participants. The most frequent age among them was 30-39 years old (n=170, 47%), followed by 40-49 years old (n=105, 29%), then 18-29 years old (n=46, 12.7%). The most frequent gender among study participants was female (n=185, 51.1%) and male (n=177, 48.9%). The most frequent nationality among study participants was Saudi (n= 325, 89.8%), followed by non-Saudi (n= 37, 10.2%). Marital Status among study participants: most were married (n=226, 62.4%), followed by single (n=111, 30.7%), then divorced (n=21, 5.8%), and at least widowed (n=4, 1.1%). Profession among study participants: most were physicians (n=164, 45.3%), followed by Others (n=63, 17.4%), Nurses (n=58, 16%), and Pharmacists (n=43, 11.9%). Years of Experience among study participants: most of them were more than 10 years (n=162, 44.8%), followed by 6-10 years (n=97, 26.8%), then 1-5 years (n=74, 20.4%), and at least less than 1 year (n=29, 8%). Participants were asked about average working hours per week. Most of them answered 41-50 hours (n=159, 43.9%), followed by 30-40 hours (n=133, 36.7%), then less than 30 hours (n=36, 9.9%), and more than 50 hours (n=34, 9.4%). Participants were asked, Have you ever attended any workshop/seminar related to mental health or depression? Most of them answered no (n=218, 60.2%), then yes (n=144, 39.8%). Participants were asked Are you aware of what clinical depression is. The most frequent were Yes (n=167, 46.1%), followed by not sure (n=112, 30.9%), then no (n=83, 22.9%). Participants were asked, Do you believe depression is a medical condition that requires treatment. The most frequent were yes (n=325, 89.8%), no (n=23, 6.4%), and not sure (n=14, 3.9%). Participants were asked. If you checked any problems above, how difficult have these made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people; Most of them said Somewhat difficult (n=162, 44.8%), followed by Not difficult at all (n=131, 36.2%), then Very difficult (n=43, 11.9%), Extremely difficult (n=26, 7.2%).
Conclusion: The study found that depression among healthcare workers is significantly associated with age, nationality, marital status, profession, workplace setting, working hours, depression awareness, and previous history of depression. Gender showed no significant association.