A Survey of Psychiatric Healthcare Workers' Perception of Working Environment and Possibility to Recover Before and After the First Wave of COVID-19 in Sweden.

Eirini Alexiou,Helle Wijk,Steinn Steingrimsson,Linda Ahlstrom,Ingibjörg H Jonsdottir,Alessio Degl'Innocenti,Magnus Akerstrom,Caterina Finizia

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.770955

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived working environment, including the possibility to recover, among psychiatric healthcare workers (PHCWs) in comparison with pre-pandemic measures.Method: A link to an anonymous, web-based COVID-19 related survey was sent via email to all PHCWs at a university hospital in Sweden (n = 1,618) in September 2020. The response rate was 38% (566 of 1,507 eligible participants). Working environment survey responses collected in 2019 were used as pre-pandemic comparators. Statistical analyses were performed to assess overall impact over time on work demands, support, motivation, and recovery, stratified by professional role, and considering variables such as access to personal protective equipment.Results: The percentage of individuals responding negatively to statements about working environment increased significantly for most items after the first wave. Similarly, the increase of five of the investigated factors indicated a more negative perception of recovery during the pandemic. Registered nurses reported a greater negative impact of the pandemic on perceived working conditions and ability to recover than other professional groups. PHCWs working with patients with COVID-19 (35%) who reported being worried about becoming infected (12%) or infecting others (17%), or lacking adequate personal protective equipment (22%) were more negatively impacted regarding work environment-related items than those who did not.Conclusions: PHCWs' working environment and possibility for recovery were impacted by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses being most affected. Although psychiatric services do not directly care for patients with severe COVID-19 infection, the results from this study suggests that mental health services should also prepare for future pandemics.

Highlights

The psychosocial work environment among psychiatric healthcare workers (PHCWs) during the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (COVID-19), starting in 2020, has generally been described as being poor [1,2,3,4]
35% (n = 197) of the PHCWs participating in the survey reported themselves as having taken care of patients with COVID-19
PHCWs working with patients with COVID-19 or lacking sufficient access to protective equipment (PPE) while working with patients with COVID-19 reported a more negative perception of the working environment on most items, compared to PHCWs not working with patients with COVID-19 or not lacking sufficient PPE access, respectively (Figures 4, 5)

Summary

Introduction

The psychosocial work environment among psychiatric healthcare workers (PHCWs) during the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (COVID-19), starting in 2020, has generally been described as being poor [1,2,3,4]. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted healthcare workers (HCWs) both in terms of workload and mental health [5,6,7]. HCWs directly caring for patients with severe COVID-19 are at risk of experiencing negative impacts on their own mental health, those working with other patient groups such as home health care, or in other non-clinical roles have been affected [19]. A recent cross-sectional study reported high prevalence of burnout, anxiety, and distress among academic otolaryngologists who were not caring for patients with COVID-19 [21]

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Discussion

Conclusion