BEHIND THE MASK: UNVEILING THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES OF OPERATION THEATRE PROFESSIONALS, A MULTICENTER STUDY OF DISTRICT SWAT PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Operating theatre professionals play a crucial role in healthcare delivery but face significant mental health challenges including anxiety, depression and burnout, owing to their high stress environment. These issues remain underexplored in resource constrained rural settings such as District Swat, Pakistan, where healthcare infrastructure is limited. Objectives: This study assessed the prevalence and severity of mental health challenges among OT professionals in District Swat and evaluated their impact on wellbeing using the WHO-5 Well Being Index. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 269 OT professionals including anesthetists, surgeons, surgical technicians and OT nurses working in government and private hospitals in the Swat district. Validated instruments namely the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI HSS) and WHO-5 Well Being Index were used for data collection. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22 IBM. Results: Mental health problems were significantly associated with workplace condition. Private hospital staff showed higher anxiety (mild 70.4%, moderate 86.4%) and depression (mild 67.1%, moderate 81.5%) than government hospital staff. Anesthesiologists, OT nurses and surgical technicians showed the highest burnout levels. Demographics were not associated with mental health outcomes. Poor mental health was correlated with lower well Being and normal anxiety/depression levels showed high WHO-5 scores, whereas moderate levels reduced well Being. Burnout features emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and diminished accomplishments. Conclusion: Work related stress from hospital type and job duties is a key contributor to mental health problems among OT professionals in the District Swat. These challenges affect their well Being, requiring interventions such as stress management training and workload optimization. Addressing these issues is vital for improving healthcare worker resilience and patient outcomes in the future.