Health Of Healthcare Workers Research Articles

Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers of tertiary care hospitals

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of mental health issues when faced with the challenges associated with pandemics. This study was conducted to assess the psychological impact of pandemic on HCWs working in tertiary care hospitals of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. This cross-sectional study was conducted between April & June 2020. By convenience sampling an electronic form of Goldberg General Health Questionnaire was distributed among HCWs of the private sector and public tertiary care hospitals. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Inferential analysis was done. The significant level was considered at p=<0.05. Total of 186 HCWs among which 105 (56.5%) males and 81 (43.5%) females par­ticipated in the survey, a mean age of 37.6±9.28 years. The highest prevalence was found for social dysfunction 184 (97.8%) followed by somatization, 169 (92.8%). Significance of difference was found between age group and anxiety (p=0.018), specialty of HCWs with somatization and social dysfunction (p=0.041 and 0.037 respectively). Pandemic poses a significant risk for the mental health of HCWs. During pandemics at its peak, proper mental health support program, personal and family protection assurance is highly recommended for provision of quality care by HCWs.

Mental Health and Quality of Life for Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Background: COVID-19, a strain of the coronavirus that causes acute respiratory syndrome, first appeared in the Chinese city of Wuhan and quickly spread throughout the world in early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed health care systems around the world and affected the mental health of healthcare workers and their quality of life.Aim: to review the existing scientific evidence regarding mental health and quality of life of health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study was taken from the pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Ebsco databases identified between December 2019 to July 2021 and was limited to peer-reviewed research written in English, quantitative research on mental health and quality of life with a cross sectional approach. Articles that fit the criteria are then analyzed using the critical appraisal tool that is appropriate for results of the research. Results: The results showed an increase in mental disorders, including stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD in health workers. This is caused by several factors, namely 1) stressors that contribute to the work environment 2) work pressure components, 3) epidemic components, 4) family-related components. This condition can affect the quality of life of health workers. Conclusion: Research evaluating the direct and indirect association of mental disorders on the mental health of healthcare professionals is urgently needed to improve treatment, mental health care planning and for preventive measures during a potential next pandemic.

The development and psychometric evaluation of COVID-19 staff questionnaire for infectious disease outbreak readiness and preparedness (SQIDORP)

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has inundated the capacity of hospitals across the globe, exhausting resources, and placing extreme burden on health care workers (HCWs). Hospital preparedness during infectious disease outbreak involves development and implementation of appropriate strategies, procedures, and adequate training for HCWs. Reliable and valid tools to evaluate the perception of HCWs on the effectiveness of hospital preparedness strategies are imperative and literature is yet to fill that gap.MethodsItems for ‘The Staff Questionnaire for Infectious Disease Outbreak Readiness and Preparedness (SQIDORP)’ were selected from literature that addressed hospital preparedness during novel pandemic outbreaks. The SQIDORP was distributed within a regional hospital in Victoria, Australia. Psychometric evaluation included estimates of reliability and factor analysis while factors associated with the questionnaire were explored using regression analysis.ResultsOmega coefficient of 0.89, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.88 and item-total correlations (> 0.3) indicated adequate reliability of the SQIDORP. Factor Analysis yielded three meaningful latent factors that are effectiveness of training (Factor 1), self-confidence (Factor 2) and risk to self and stress (Factor 3). Demographic factors did not influence the correlation with SQIDORP. However, rating ‘the current plan for management of COVID-19 in your ward’ and ‘personal knowledge/skills in caring for patients with COVID-19’ had significant positive correlation and accounted for 33% of the variance in readiness and preparedness using SQIDORP (R2 = 0.33, F = 10.227, P < 0.001).ConclusionMost of the items of SQIDORP questionnaire achieved adequate internal consistence reliability. This is a valuable tool that can be utilized by hospitals to explore aspects of preparedness and give insights to the knowledge, skills, and mental health of HCWs, as perceived by the HCW themselves.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of medical staff considering the interplay of pandemic burden and psychosocial resources-A rapid systematic review.

BackgroundIn times of the global corona pandemic health care workers (HCWs) fight the disease at the frontline of healthcare services and are confronted with an exacerbated load of pandemic burden. Psychosocial resources are thought to buffer adverse effects of pandemic stressors on mental health. This rapid review summarizes evidence on the specific interplay of pandemic burden and psychosocial resources with regard to the mental health of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal was to derive potential starting points for supportive interventions.MethodsWe conducted a rapid systematic review following the recommendations of the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group. We searched 7 databases in February 2021 and included peer-reviewed quantitative studies, that reported related data on pandemic stressors, psychosocial resources, and mental health of HCWs.Results46 reports were finally included in the review and reported data on all three outcomes at hand. Most studies (n = 41) applied a cross-sectional design. Our results suggest that there are several statistically significant pandemic risk factors for mental health problems in HCWs such as high risk and fear of infection, while resilience, active and emotion-focused coping strategies as well as social support can be considered beneficial when protecting different aspects of mental health in HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence for patterns of interaction between outcomes were found in the context of coping style when facing specific pandemic stressors.ConclusionsOur results indicate that several psychosocial resources may play an important role in buffering adverse effects of pandemic burden on the mental health of HCWs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, causal interpretations of mentioned associations are inadequate due to the overall low study quality and the dominance of cross-sectional study designs. Prospective longitudinal studies are required to elucidate the missing links.

Implementation of initiatives designed to improve healthcare worker health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: comparative case studies from 13 healthcare provider organisations globally

BackgroundHealthcare workers are at a disproportionate risk of contracting COVID-19. The physical and mental repercussions of such risk have an impact on the wellbeing of healthcare workers around the world. Healthcare workers are the foundation of all well-functioning health systems capable of responding to the ongoing pandemic; initiatives to address and reduce such risk are critical. Since the onset of the pandemic healthcare organizations have embarked on the implementation of a range of initiatives designed to improve healthcare worker health and wellbeing.MethodsThrough a qualitative collective case study approach where participants responded to a longform survey, the facilitators, and barriers to implementing such initiatives were explored, offering global insights into the challenges faced at the organizational level. 13 healthcare organizations were surveyed across 13 countries. Of these 13 participants, 5 subsequently provided missing information through longform interviews or written clarifications.Results13 case studies were received from healthcare provider organizations. Mental health initiatives were the most commonly described health and wellbeing initiatives among respondents. Physical health and health and safety focused initiatives, such as the adaption of workspaces, were also described. Strong institutional level direction, including engaged leadership, and the input, feedback, and engagement of frontline staff were the two main facilitators in implementing initiatives. The most common barrier was HCWs’ fear of contracting COVID-19 / fear of passing COVID-19 to family members. In organizations who discussed infection prevention and control initiatives, inadequate personal protective equipment and supply chain disruption were highlighted by respondents.ConclusionsCommon themes emerge globally in exploring the enablers and barriers to implementing initiatives to improve healthcare workers health and wellbeing through the COVID-19 pandemic. Consideration of the themes outlined in the paper by healthcare organizations could help influence the design and deployment of future initiatives ahead of implementation.

Promoting Mental Health in Healthcare Workers in Hospitals Through Psychological Group Support With Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing During COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study.

BackgroundPsychological support was provided by the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR-IGTP) within the hospitals in the Northern Italy in favor of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of treatment in terms of (a) symptomatology reduction related to peri- and post-traumatic stress; (b) clinical improvement over time; and (c) the maintenance of the achieved outcome over time.MethodsThe population was composed of healthcare workers who spontaneously requested psychological intervention in both the first and the second emergency waves. Statistical analyses were carried out to highlight the differences in Impact of Event-Revised (IES-R) and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) before and after the group intervention.ResultsIn both the first and the second waves, pre-treatment values are higher than post-treatment values for all dimensions of the IES-R. The results show that there are no significant differences between the first and the second wave with regard to the treatment effect. Healthcare workers maintained positive changes over time despite their prolonged exposure to an emergency and the possibility of retraumatization at the onset of a new emergency phase, irrespective of their working place. Healthcare workers who were treated in the first wave showed at the beginning of the second emergency wave less vulnerability and more resilience than those who were treated only in the second wave.Pre-treatment scores of healthcare workers affected by COVID-19 are discussed.ConclusionCOVID-19 had a significant impact on the well-being of healthcare workers who were working in hospitals. Psychological support in case of emergency is needed.

The new frontline: exploring the links between moral distress, moral resilience and mental health in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundGlobal health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, confront healthcare workers (HCW) with increased exposure to potentially morally distressing events. The pandemic has provided an opportunity to explore the links between moral distress, moral resilience, and emergence of mental health symptoms in HCWs.MethodsA total of 962 Canadian healthcare workers (88.4% female, 44.6 + 12.8 years old) completed an online survey during the first COVID-19 wave in Canada (between April 3rd and September 3rd, 2020). Respondents completed a series of validated scales assessing moral distress, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms, and moral resilience. Respondents were grouped based on exposure to patients who tested positive for COVID-19. In addition to descriptive statistics and analyses of covariance, multiple linear regression was used to evaluate if moral resilience moderates the association between exposure to morally distressing events and moral distress. Factors associated with moral resilience were also assessed.FindingsRespondents working with patients with COVID-19 showed significantly more severe moral distress, anxiety, and depression symptoms (F > 5.5, p < .020), and a higher proportion screened positive for mental disorders (Chi-squared > 9.1, p = .002), compared to healthcare workers who were not. Moral resilience moderated the relationship between exposure to potentially morally distressing events and moral distress (p < .001); compared to those with higher moral resilience, the subgroup with the lowest moral resilience had a steeper cross-sectional worsening in moral distress as the frequency of potentially morally distressing events increased. Moral resilience also correlated with lower stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms (r > .27, p < .001). Factors independently associated with stronger moral resilience included: being male, older age, no mental disorder diagnosis, sleeping more, and higher support from employers and colleagues (B [0.02, |-0.26|].InterpretationElevated moral distress and mental health symptoms in healthcare workers facing a global crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic call for the development of interventions promoting moral resilience as a protective measure against moral adversities.

Insulating frontline COVID warriors from moral and mental distress during COVID pandemic- An Evidence based review

The commencement of Covid-19 pandemic has bothered moral and mental health of frontline Covid warriors. Scarcity of personal protective equipments, protracted working hours, improper hydration, hostile healthcare system, unprecedented settings and hurdles in provision of quality care have constituted a deterioration of mental health in healthcare workers. Frontline health care workers often experience burnout, anxiety, depression, insomnia and stress-related disorders. Moral distress rearing from baffl ing decisions regarding issuance of scarce resources and care to Covid-19 positive patients further amplify to strain health worker loads. Therefore, it is vital to admonish mental health of health care workers consistently using collaborative strategies at individual, system and organisational level. This article reviews the moral distress and mental health problems confronted by frontline health care workers and explores various strategies which ought to be executed to cope with them.

What do COVID-19-associated hygiene measures mean for the skin health of healthcare workers? Results of a controlled, prospective intervention study

What do COVID-19-associated hygiene measures mean for the skin health of healthcare workers? Results of a controlled, prospective intervention study

The implementation of an e-learning tool to improve mental health of healthcare workers and teaching staff during the corona pandemic

The implementation of an e-learning tool to improve mental health of healthcare workers and teaching staff during the corona pandemic

The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health of Healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: A Review

The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health of Healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: A Review

The impact of death of COVID-19 patients on mental health of healthcare workers: a latent profile analysis of post-traumatic stress symptoms

The impact of death of COVID-19 patients on mental health of healthcare workers: a latent profile analysis of post-traumatic stress symptoms

The effect of the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers

The effect of the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers

Symptomatology, Positivity, and Type of Care Received by Healthcare Workers Tested for COVID-19 Infection in a North-Central State in Nigeria: A Retrospective Study

Background: The health of healthcare workers (HCWs) is an indicator of the quality of health service provision during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the symptomatology and positivity of COVID-19 infection and the type of COVID-19 care received among HCWs in a North-Central State in Nigeria. Methods: This was a retrospective review of HCWs tested for COVID-19 as retrieved from the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management System between April 2020 and March 2021 in Kwara State, Nigeria. Results: Among the 1453 HCWs, 831 (57.2%) were above 35 years, and 874 (60.2%) were females. Among the 259 HCWs who tested positive for COVID-19, 122 (23.8%) lived in urban areas (χ2=13.94, P≤0.001). Also, 83 (30.7%) of symptomatic persons tested positive for COVID-19 (χ 2=37.766, P≤0.001). Overall, 33 (12.7%) of the 259 positive HCWs received hospital-based COVID-19 care, and 33 (16.1%) who had less than 2 symptoms received hospital-based COVID-19 care (χ2=9.962, P=0.002). HCWs who had cough had three times odds of testing positive for COVID-19 (OR=3.299, 95% CI=1.571–6.927, P=0.002). Also, HCWs who manifested loss of taste had three times odds of testing positive for COVID-19 (OR=3.392, 95% CI=1.010–11.393, P=0.048). Conclusion: COVID-19 testing should be encouraged among HCWs, especially those with cough symptoms and loss of taste.

Reliability and Validity of the Perception of Stigma due to COVID-19 in Physicians

BackgroundThinking that they are being stigmatized can negatively affect the mental health of healthcare workers, whose workload has already increased during the epidemic. The aim of the study was to develop the ‘Perception of Stigma due to COVID-19 in Physicians' (PSCP) and to conduct a validity and reliability study.MethodsA 5-point Likert-type 23-item question pool was created. In order to evaluate the content validity, CGI and CGO were calculated by taking expert opinions and 18 items were selected. It was tested with 303 physicians in Turkey to determine the psychometric properties. In order to evaluate the reliability of the scale, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) analyzes, item analysis and test-retest reliability analysis were performed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used for construct validity.ResultsOf the participants 59.1% were female. After analysis, the scale consisted of 10 items and 2 sub-dimensions. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.87 for the environmental stigmatization sub-dimension, 0.76 for the perception of personal stigmatization, and 0.88 for the whole scale. Scale items explained 61.56% of the total variance and factor loads varied between 0.66 and 0.85. Scale fit and fit index were found to be acceptable as a result of CFA. Pearson correlation coefficient calculated for test-retest reliability was 0.63, and intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.70 (95% CI 0.38-0.86, p: 0.001). In the final, the total score that can be taken from the scale was between 0-50. The mean total score obtained from the scale was 24.3 ± 7.9. Of the physicians 46.9% scored above the average. It was accepted that as the score obtained from the scale increased, the level of perception of stigma caused by COVID-19 increased in physicians.ConclusionsPSCP is a valid and reliable tool for assessing perception of COVID-19-induced stigma in healthcare workers.Key messages The scale developed is a tool that can be used in studies aimed at evaluating the stigma perceptions caused by COVID-19 in physicians.During the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians' level of stigma perception obtained with the PSCP scale was high.

COVID-19 pandemic impact on headache in healthcare workers: a narrative review

Background: Pandemic of COVID-19, the potentially fatal disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, had caused intangible consequences on global health systems, economy, daily life, education, travel, leisure, work, and mental health. Its impact on mental and physical health, especially in health professionals, has been described. Objective: This study aimed to review and discuss the published evidence regarding the presence of headache on COVID-19 healthcare workers. Methods: In this review, we searched for all articles published in various data bases including PubMed / Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science and all original research studies, letters to editor, case reports, commentaries and reviews published in English, Portuguese or Spanish were searched. Two researchers independently analyzed published articles in order to include/exclude based on inclusion or exclusion criteria. Results: Thirteen articles were included. All studies included in this review were observational; eleven were cross-sectional studies, one was a prospective/cohort and one was a retrospective. Two studies evaluated psychological outcomes, mental health disorders and associated factors, one study investigated symptoms and causes of somatic symptom disorder and all other studies evaluated headaches associated with Personal Protective Equipment (PPI). Conclusions: The present review shows that COVID-19 pandemic has negative impact on physical and mental health in healthcare workers and headache has been associated to psychological stress and work overload during pandemic. Further studies are necessary to better investigate COVID-19 pandemic effects on headaches and other neurological conditions.

Assessment of COVID-19 Contact Healthcare Workers at Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital

Introduction: In the COVID-19 pandemic process, the health of healthcare workers with a high risk of infection is critical. Many healthcare workers have become infected while serving COVID-19 patients, and they have also been and are still exposed to the disease agent at hospital, household or community-based. The aim of this study was to determine the risk status of healthcare workers in contact with COVID-19 patients working at Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital, and to reveal COVID-19 surveillance and related results. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was based on examining the data of healthcare workers (HW) that came in contact with the disease between 1 April and 31 December 2020 to the COVID-19 Surveillance Unit (SU), which was established by Manisa Celal Bayar University Public Health Department during the pandemic process. Results: Among the in-contact health workers;65.7% were females, 42.5% were nurses and 26.0% were physicians. 23.8% of the contacts were high, 42.9% medium and 33.3% low risk. High risk contact percanteges were statistically higher in the emergency unit personal, laboratory workers and household/community based contacts (p= 0.000). PCR positivity rate was 10.1% in high risk contact and 3.6% in medium risk contact (p= 0.000). During the research period, the rate of COVID-19 positivity in healthcare workers at Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital was determined as 21.9% (n= 374). In the study, 24.9% of COVID-19 positive healthcare workers were physicians and 29.0 % were nurses. Conclusion: 23.8% of HCW were evaluated as high risk contact and 21.9% of the group tested positive. High risk contact percanteges were statistically higher in the emergency unit personal, laboratory workers and household/community based contacts. Protecting healthcare workers from infection in the fight against pandemics and performing contact follow-ups are also vital for continuity of service.

Frontline healthcare workers\u2019 mental distress, top concerns, and assessment on hierarchy of controls in response to COVID-19: a cross-sectional survey study

BackgroundThe existing studies showed that frontline healthcare workers during an epidemic experienced unusual stressors and mental distress which even lasted for years after the crisis. It is important to learn about their concerns early to mitigate the negative impact as well as to evaluate disease control from experiences on the front lines for improving responses to the outbreak. The study aimed to provide insights on how to strengthen public health responses to protect healthcare workers both physically and mentally, and effectively control the disease in light of hierarchy of controls.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was distributed online via Qualtrics to frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 through a university’s nursing program and received 267 valid responses from 103 certificated nursing assistants, 125 nurses, and 39 other health professionals. A descriptive data analysis with a Chi-square test at a two-sided 0.05 level of significance was performed on factors that potentially affected mental health of healthcare workers and effectiveness of disease control at workplace in five domains. The themes were summarized on open-ended questions.ResultsAbout 30% of the respondents showed the symptom of depression and needed a further investigation. The influencing factors in five domains were examined. Engineering and administrative controls, as well as PPE were widely used in response to COVID-19. The respondents assessed the state and workplace responses to COVID-19 better than the federal government responses. The workplace responses were considered most effective. Multiple factors with a statistically significant correlation with effectiveness of the disease control at workplace were identified.ConclusionsThe study suggested that timely responses at policy level will be more effective than other measures in early prevention and control of the pandemic, mental distress should be addressed in addition to PPE, and nursing programs should consider providing a situation-specific career coaching or counseling for students. A longitudinal study at a larger scale is warranted to capture the variation of time change with the disease control evolvement and across geographic regions.

Mental health issues and psychological risk factors among Paraguayan healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThere is an increasing concern regarding the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.AimsThis study aimed to assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 exposure among Paraguayan healthcare workers.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study has been carried out in five hospitals of Paraguay. Demographic and occupational exposure to COVID-19 were collected through a short questionnaire. Mental health status was assessed with the GAD-7, the PHQ-9, and the PCL-C. Logistic regression was used to determine psychological risk factors.Results432 participants were surveyed. 218 (50.46%) were physicians. The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD was 48.15, 41.90, and 5.79%, respectively. There were no significant differences in anxiety (128 [29.63%] vs. 80 [18.52%]; p = 0.3303), depression (102 [23.61%] vs. 79 [18.29%]; p = 0.6703), or PTSD (14 [3.24%] vs. 11 [2.55%]; p = 0.8074) between frontline versus second-line workers. Main risk factors associated with psychological distress included work experience <5 years for depression and a COVID-19 positive diagnosis or having family/friends with a COVID-19 positive diagnosis for PTSD.ConclusionsParaguayan healthcare workers reported high prevalence of anxiety, depression, and a low prevalence of PTSD. A positive diagnosis of COVID-19 and work experience <5 years are important psychological risk factors.

Bibliometric analysis of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BackgroundAs a global pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a profound effect on public mental health.MethodsPublications related to mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic from December 1, 2019, to November 13, 2020, were extracted from the Web of Science database. Bibliometric indicator analysis was performed using VOSviewer 1.6.15.ResultsIn total, 1233 documents from 2020 were retrieved, of which 680 were original articles. The United States contributed the largest publication output (285, 23.1%). Huazhong University of Science and Technology published the most articles in this field (35), while Wuhan University received the most citations (1149). The United Kingdom had the strongest collaboration network. Four keyword clusters representing hotspots in this field were identified.ConclusionsIn addition to developed countries, countries seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic also made significant contributions to mental health research during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study focused on various aspects, such as mental health during isolation, mental health in healthcare workers, and public mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the future, countries should strengthen global cooperation and pay more attention to the mental health of vulnerable groups during pandemics.