Dataset Information

COVID-19 is Having A Destructive Impact On Healthcare Workers' Mental Wellbeing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may aggravate workplace conditions that impact healthcare workers' mental health. However, it can also place other stresses on workers outside of their work. This study determines the effect of COVID-19 on symptoms of negative and positive mental health and the workforce's experience with various sources of support. Effect modification by demographic variables was also studied.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey study, conducted between April 2nd and May 4th 2020 (2 waves), led to a convenience sample of 4509 healthcare workers in Flanders (Belgium), including paramedics (40.6%), nurses (33.4%), doctors (13.4%) and management staff (12.2%). About three in four were employed in university and acute hospitals (29.6%), primary care practices (25.7%), residential care centers (21.3%) or care sites for disabled and mental healthcare. In each of the two waves, participants were asked how frequently (on a scale of 0 to 10) they experienced positive and negative mental health symptoms during normal circumstances and during last week, referred to as before and during COVID-19, respectively. These symptoms were stress, hypervigilance, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, unable to relax, fear, irregular lifestyle, flashback, difficulty concentrating, feeling unhappy and dejected, failing to recognize their own emotional response, doubting knowledge and skills, and feeling uncomfortable within the team. Associations between COVID-19 and mental health symptoms were estimated by cumulative logit models and reported as odds ratios. The needed support was our secondary outcome and was reported as the degree to which healthcare workers relied on sources of support and how they experienced them.

Results

All symptoms were significantly more pronounced during versus before COVID-19. For hypervigilance there was a twelvefold odds (OR 12.24, 95% CI 11.11-13.49) during versus before COVID-19. Positive professional symptoms such as the feeling that one can make a difference were less frequently experienced. The association between COVID-19 and mental health was generally strongest for the age group 30-49 years, females, nurses, and residential care centers. Healthcare workers reported to rely on support from relatives and peers. A considerable proportion, respectively 18% and 27%, reported the need for professional guidance from psychologists and more support from their leadership.

Conclusions

The toll of the crisis has been heavy on healthcare workers. Those who carry leadership positions at an organizational or system level should take this opportunity to develop targeted strategies to mitigate key stressors of healthcare workers' mental wellbeing.

SUBMITTER: Vanhaecht K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7799030 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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COVID-19 is having a destructive impact on health-care workers' mental well-being.

Vanhaecht Kris K Seys Deborah D Bruyneel Luk L Cox Bianca B Kaesemans Gorik G Cloet Margot M Van Den Broeck Kris K Cools Olivia O De Witte Andy A Lowet Koen K Hellings Johan J Bilsen Johan J Lemmens Gilbert G Claes Stephan S

International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care 20210201 1

<h4>Background</h4>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may aggravate workplace conditions that impact health-care workers' mental health. However, it can also place other stresses on workers outside of their work. This study determines the effect of COVID-19 on symptoms of negative and positive mental health and the workforce's experience with various sources of support. Effect modification by demographic variables was also studied.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional survey study, conducted be ...[more]

PMID: 33270881

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