Work stress and caring intention among health care workers in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Background Healthcare workers may feel stress when caring for patients suspected as having a highly infectious and novel disease, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Objectives This study aimed to identify the psychological responses and factors affecting these responses among healthcare workers in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Healthcare workers regardless of their experience in caring for COVID-19 patients in our hospital voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study in April 2021. We used a self-assessment questionnaire with 70 items to identify the psychological responses and affecting factors. Results The experience of caring for COVID-19 patients was significantly associated with eight stressors, including “frequent modification of infection control procedures,” “worrying about being negligent and endangering coworkers,” “worrying about lack of manpower,” “being without a properly fitted environment,” “protective gears being a drag in providing quality care,” “protective gears causing physical discomfort,” “worrying about inflicting COVID-19 on family” and “worrying about nosocomial spread.” Using multivariate logistic regression, “switching thoughts and facing the situation with positive attitudes” (odds ratio: 2.974, P = 0.011), “ever caring COVID-19 patients” (odds ratio: 1.990, P = 0.018), “I felt scared” (odds ratio: 0.180, P < 0.001), and “I thought it is unlucky” (odds ratio: 0.492, P = 0.029) were identified as independent factors for the healthcare workers’ willingness to participate in future missions regarding infectious respiratory diseases. Conclusion The experience of caring for COVID-19 patients was significantly associated with several stressors related to psychological, practical, and environmental aspects, but not with immediate reactions to the mission. Experiences in caring for COVID-19 patients and positive attitudes could increase the healthcare workers’ willingness to participate in future missions regarding infectious respiratory diseases, and feeling scared and unlucky can reduce this willingness.