Abstract
Background: Prevalence, incidence, and factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms at follow-up among healthcare workers after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic are unknown. Methods: A web survey invitation was sent to healthcare worker listservs at a NYC medical center (April, 2020). The Primary Care (PC)-PTSD questionnaire was used to screen for PTSD symptoms at baseline and then every 2 weeks for 10 weeks. Incidence and prevalence of PTSD symptoms were determined at each time point. Multivariable generalized estimating equation models were performed to investigate the factors associated with a positive PC-PTSD screen at follow-up. Results: Median age (interquartile range) of N = 230 participants was 36 (31–48) years; 79.6% were women; 82.6% worked in COVID-19-focused settings. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms decreased from 55.2% at baseline to 25.0% at 10 weeks (p < 0.001). Among participants who had a baseline negative screen for PTSD symptoms, the incidence of PTSD at 10 weeks was 12.2% (p-trend 0.034). In multivariable-adjusted analyses, being a nurse (odds ratio [OR]: 1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–2.71), female (OR: 3.00, 95% CI: 1.59, 5.72), and working in a COVID-19-focused location (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.21) were associated with increased odds of PTSD symptoms at 10-weeks. Conclusions: PTSD symptoms improved over 3 months following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, one out of four NYC healthcare workers still had an increased risk for PTSD at 10-weeks. Screening healthcare workers for PTSD symptoms should be considered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers have been exposed to stressful occupational conditions, including long hours, increased risk of COVID-19 infection, and excessive patient workload
We examined the prevalence and incidence of posttraumatic stress symptoms across a 10-week follow-up period among New York City (NYC) healthcare workers working at a large academic center during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, when NYC was the center of the US COVID-19 pandemic [14]
Acute stress was prevalent at baseline assessment among NYC healthcare workers enrolled in a 10-week study during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Summary
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers have been exposed to stressful occupational conditions, including long hours, increased risk of COVID-19 infection, and excessive patient workload. 10-year follow-up period demonstrated that individuals with prior trauma and a previous diagnosis of PTSD have an increased risk of developing PTSD in response to subsequent trauma [11]. These findings have particular relevance in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as rates of acute stress among healthcare workers have been high. Exist examining the prevalence of and factors associated with PTSD symptoms at follow-up in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the prevalence and incidence of posttraumatic stress symptoms across a 10-week follow-up period among NYC healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, house staff/fellows) working at a large academic center during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, when NYC was the center of the US COVID-19 pandemic [14]. We examined the factors associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms among participants at follow-up
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