Subjective assessment of occupational risk factors for health and psychoemotional state of health care workers under changed working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

We accomplished a cross-sectional study using a specifically designed questionnaire. The aim of our study was to examine subjective assessment of influence exerted on healthcare workers’ health and psychoemotional state by changed working conditions and use of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The examined healthcare workers were employed at a multi-field re-profiled in-patient hospital. We established a considerable change in the workplace setting of healthcare workers in an unfavorable epidemic situation. It involved longer contacts with hazardous biological and chemical factors, elevated work hardness and intensity as well as the necessity to use personal protective equipment for a long time. Longer use of personal protective equipment when tending COVID-19 patients was associated with higher frequency of several variable complaints made by the questioned healthcare workers. Respondents were more likely to report difficulty in breathing (p < 0.001) and some discomfort around the face and/or behind the ears (p = 0.035) when wearing a medical face mask / respirator; wearing goggles was likely to involve itching, redness and/or maceration in the area where goggles contacted the head (p = 0.009), headache (p = 0.002) and discomfort in the area where goggles contacted the head (p < 0.001); healthcare workers who wore medical gloves reported itching (p = 0.004) and skin peeling (p < 0.001); use of protective overalls led to elevated sweating (p < 0.001), feeling overheated (p < 0.001), thirst (p < 0.001), and palpitation (p = 0.012). A significant proportion of respondents experienced some difficulties in using personal protective equipment related to visual and auditory perception of information, physical discomfort, putting on and taking off personal protective equipment, performance of work requiring precise movements, and decreased work capacity. The frequency of such complaints grew statistically significantly during a period when a healthcare worker had to treat COVID-19 patients.