Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This scoping review provides a summary of current evidence on the mental health consequences of COVID on HCWs.Methods: A scoping review was conducted searching PubMed and Embase for articles relevant to mental health conditions among HCWs during COVID-19. Relevant articles were screened and extracted to summarize key outcomes and findings.Results: A total of fifty-one studies were included in this review. Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, psychological trauma, insomnia and sleep quality, workplace burnout and fatigue, and distress were the main outcomes reviewed. Most studies found a high number of symptoms endorsed for depression, anxiety, and other conditions. We found differences in symptoms by sex, age, and HCW role, with female, younger-aged, frontline workers, and non-physician workers being affected more than other subgroups.Conclusion: This review highlights the existing burden of mental health conditions reported by HCWs during COVID-19. It also demonstrates emerging disparities among affected HCW subgroups. This scoping review emphasizes the importance of generating high quality evidence and developing informed interventions for HCW mental health with a focus on LMICs.
Highlights
From January to August 2020, over 800,000 people have died due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and health departments confirmed more than 24 million cases worldwide [1]
Given the rapidly evolving nature of the evidence, we provide an update of the current evidence base on healthcare workers (HCWs) mental health in low and middle-income countries (LMICs)
For the purpose of this scoping review, we adhered to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition of HCWs which includes physicians, nurses, emergency medical personnel, dental professionals and students, medical and nursing students, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, hospital volunteers, and administrative staff [13]
Summary
From January to August 2020, over 800,000 people have died due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and health departments confirmed more than 24 million cases worldwide [1]. HCWs currently comprise the most critical sector of the workforce at the frontlines of testing and treatment for COVID19 as well as covering other essential health services They are at an unusually high risk of exposure to infection, and they are at high risk of developing mental and behavioral disorders due to the high psychological toll of their intensive work in managing this highly infectious virus and grieving deaths of their colleagues [6, 7]. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
