Acute psychological effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreak among healthcare workers in China: a cross-sectional study

Ying Wang,Xin Guo,Hui Du,Shiming Tang,Jiang Wu,Lijun Kang,Zhongchun Liu,Shaohua Hu,Can Yang,Zhongxiang Cai,Hanping Bai,Ruiting Li,Simeng Ma,Lihua Yao,Gaohua Wang,Huawei Tan,Bin Zhang

doi:10.1038/s41398-020-01031-w

Abstract

To study the acute psychological effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak among healthcare workers (HCWs) in China, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among HCWs during the early period of COVID-19 outbreak. The acute psychological effects including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and PTSD was estimated at 15.0%, 27.1%, and 9.8%, respectively. Having an intermediate technical title, working at the frontline, receiving insufficient training for protection, and lacking confidence in protection measures were significantly associated with increased risk for depression and anxiety. Being a nurse, having an intermediate technical title, working at the frontline, and lacking confidence in protection measures were risk factors for PTSD. Meanwhile, not worrying about infection was a protective factor for developing depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Psychological interventions should be implemented among HCWs during the COVID-19 outbreak to reduce acute psychological effects and prevent long-term psychological comorbidities. Meanwhile, HCWs should be well trained and well protected before their frontline exposure.

Highlights

Infectious diseases are one of the biggest threats to human beings
Half of the Healthcare workers (HCWs) (49.5%) were recruited from hospitals in Wuhan, 29.7% were doctors, 70.3% were nurses, 76.3% worked in tertiary hospitals, and 39.1% worked at the frontline against COVID-19
The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among HCWs working at the frontline was assessed at Undergraduate or less

Summary

Introduction

Infectious diseases are one of the biggest threats to human beings. Within 1 month, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, since it was first publicly reported[5], has exceeded the total number of confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases in 2003 in China. As of April 2, 2020, 81,620 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3322 deaths has been reported by the National Health Commission of China[6]. The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused public panic and triggered psychological stress[7]. Healthcare workers (HCWs), the key personnel for controlling and eliminating the outbreak of a severe infectious disease, are at high risk of infection. During the outbreak of SARS, Ebola virus disease, and the Middle

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