The influence of perceived stress and musculoskeletal pain on work performance and work ability in Swedish health care workers

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a massive health crisis affecting our planet, with over 166,346,635 confirmed cases and 3,449,117 deaths globally till 24 May 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic is a massive health crisis which has brought enormous physical and psychological pressure. Mental health care for health care workers (HCWs), should receive serious consideration. The aim of this study was to determine mental health outcomes of HCWs and to examine known predictors of outcomes during the first pandemic wave. Methods 1,556 HCWs who participated in the COVID-19 IMPACT project, an international online survey examining the behavioral and psychological impacts of COVID-19 among 9,565 people from 78 countries/regions and 18 languages. Outcomes assessed were stress, depression symptoms and sleep changes. Predictors examined included sociodemographic factors, and perceived social support. Results Results demonstrated that, half of the HCWs had moderate levels of perceived stress and depression symptoms. Predictors associated with higher HCWs’ stress and depression symptoms included female gender, not having children, living with parents, lower educational background and having lower social support. Half of the HCWs (n = 800, 51.4%) continued to sleep about the same and one in four slept more or slept less. Positive predictors of sleep changes were being older, widower, not working, living with parents, and having children. Surprisingly, HCWs had less perceived stress and depression and higher levels of perceived social support than the general population. Conclusions The need for establishing ways to mitigate mental health risks and adjust psychological intervention and support of HCWs, seems to be significant as the pandemic continues. Keywords: health care workers, COVID – 19, pandemic, mental health, psychological problems

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Perceived Stress among Health Care Workers of an Emerging Infectious Covid-19 Outbreak in Indonesia

Asian Community Health Nursing Research ◽

10.29253/achnr.2021.3.9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (`1) ◽

pp. 9

Author(s):

Shinta Novelia ◽

Andi Mayasari Usman ◽

Rian Adi Pamungkas

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Health Centre ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

Work Place ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers ◽

Significant Difference

Background: During the pandemic of Covid-19 in the world, frontline health care workers have been responsible for tracing contacts of patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It has an impact on mental health of health care workers. This study aimed to investigate the perceived stress among health care workers who work in health care facilities during the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia. Material and methods: A cross sectional study designed was applied in this study. The participants were midwives, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacist assistants, physicians, medical record staff, dental nurse, nutritionists and sanitarian. Demographic questionnaire was delivered to assess age, gender, marital status, job, work place and work place province. Personal protective equipment was added to the questionnaire. A perceived stress scale was used to assess perceived stress. Results: Study questionnaires were completed by 196 respondents. The results showed that almost participants had a moderate stress (73%). Most of the subjects were in the age group of 20-30 years old (43.9%). Majority of the participants were female (89.8%). Most of the participants were married (71.4%). In 58.2% of participants’ job was midwife and in 25.5% of the participants’ job was nurse. 50% of the participants worked in Health Centre and 20.9% of the participants worked in referral Covid-19 Hospital. In 26 % of participants work place Province was West Java, 17.9 % of participants work place Province was Banten and 16.3 % of participants work place Province was South Sulawesi. There was a significant difference of participants’ perceived stress in the group of workplace (p = -.023). Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia resulted in increased stress for health care workers in Indonesia. Indonesia governments should improve interventions for preventing the spread of epidemics, promote disease treatment methods, and also offer psychological support especially for health care workers. Keyword: health care worker, covid-19, perceived stress, nurses, outbreak.

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