Abstract
BackgroundIntensive care workers are known for their stressful work environment and for a high prevalence of mental health outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mental health, well-being and changes in lifestyle among intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare workers (HCW) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare these results with those of HCW in other hospital units. Another objective was to understand which associated factors aggravate their mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey collected socio-demographic data, lifestyle changes and mental health evaluations as assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 items (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 items (PHQ-9), the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) and the World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) from the 28th May to 7th July 2020. The study was carried out at Geneva University Hospitals, a group of eight public hospitals in Switzerland. ICU HCW were analyzed for mental health outcomes and lifestyles changes and then compared to non-ICU HCW. A series of linear regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated with mental health scores.ResultsA total of 3461 HCW were included in the study, with 352 ICU HCW. Among ICU HCW, 145 (41%) showed low well-being, 162 (46%) symptoms of anxiety, 163 (46%) symptoms of depression and 76 (22%) had peritraumatic distress. The mean scores of GAD-7, PHQ-9 and WHO-5 were worse in ICU HCW than in non-ICU HCW (p < 0.01). Working in the ICU rather than in other departments resulted in a change of eating habits, sleeping patterns and alcohol consumption (p < 0.01). Being a woman, the fear of catching and transmitting COVID-19, anxiety of working with COVID-19 patients, work overload, eating and sleeping disorders as well as increased alcohol consumption were associated with worse mental health outcomes.ConclusionThis study confirms the suspicion of a high prevalence of anxiety, depression, peritraumatic distress and low well-being during the first COVID-19 wave among HCW, especially among ICU HCW. This allows for the identification of associated risk factors. Long-term psychological follow-up should be considered for HCW.
Highlights
Over the last few years, coronaviruses have caused two major pandemics: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002–2003 and Middle East respiratory syndrome MERS in 2012 [1, 2]
intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare workers (HCW) were defined as all the HCW who were working in the ICU during the first COVID-19 wave
The response rate was much higher among ICU HCW with 352 answers
Summary
Over the last few years, coronaviruses have caused two major pandemics: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002–2003 and Middle East respiratory syndrome MERS in 2012 [1, 2]. Intensive Care (2021) 11:106 facing a new global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic [2] which is having a major impact on society as well as on health care systems around the world This unique sanitary situation has forced many hospitals including the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) in Switzerland to adapt to the increased flow of patients [3]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mental health, well-being and changes in lifestyle among intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare workers (HCW) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare these results with those of HCW in other hospital units. Another objective was to understand which associ‐ ated factors aggravate their mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak
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