Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Spanish healthcare workers: a systematic review of prevalence and wave-based patterns

Abstract

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of the entire population, and especially of the healthcare, due to their close contact with the virus and the health emergency. However, the diversity of studies makes it difficult to determine the prevalence of mental health problems in Spanish healthcare workers. This study aims to examine the studies carried out during COVID-19 with the Spanish healthcare population to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and burnout symptomatology. A systematic search of the articles in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was performed following PRISMA criteria. Pooled prevalence was obtained for all the mental health symptomatology from moderate to severe, as well as divided by wave. Our data revealed that 50.54% of healthcare workers reported stress, 41.02% burnout, 35.25% anxiety, 29.76% depression, and 25.82% PTSD symptomatology. Anxiety, depression, PTSD and burnout symptomatology diminished in the second and/or the third waves but increased in the following waves. However, stress showed the maximum prevalence during the second wave. Our study highlights a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers during health crises, and emphasizes the immediate need for mental health support for healthcare workers during and after pandemics. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and burnout symptomatology exhibit a “valley” effect, initially decreasing but increasing with prolonged exposure to the COVID-19 health crisis. This underscores the necessity to implement prevention strategies to enhance stress management, emotional regulation skills, and coping abilities.