The Psychological Experience of Obstetric Patients and Health Care Workers after Implementation of Universal SARS-CoV-2 Testing

Objective This study was aimed to describe the hospitalization and early postpartum psychological experience for asymptomatic obstetric patients tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as part of a universal testing program and report the impact of this program on labor and delivery health care workers' job satisfaction and workplace anxiety. Study Design This is a cohort study of asymptomatic pregnant women who underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing between April 13, 2020 and April 26, 2020. Semistructured interviews were conducted via telephone at 1 and 2 weeks posthospitalization to assess maternal mental health. Depression screening was conducted using the patient health questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). An online survey of labor and delivery health care workers assessed job satisfaction and job-related anxiety before and during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as employees' subjective experience with universal testing. Patient and employee responses were analyzed for recurring themes. Results A total of 318 asymptomatic women underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing during this 2-week period. Six of the eight women (75%) who tested positive reported negative in-hospital experiences secondary to perceived lack of provider and partner support and neonatal separation after birth. Among the 310 women who tested negative, 34.4% of multiparous women reported increased postpartum anxiety compared with their prior deliveries due to concerns about infectious exposure in the hospital and lack of social support. Only 27.6% of women, tested negative, found their test result to be reassuring. Job satisfaction and job-related anxiety among health care workers were negatively affected. Universal testing was viewed favorably by the majority of health care workers despite concerns about delays or alterations in patient care and maternal and neonatal separation. Conclusion Universal testing for SARS-CoV-2 in obstetric units has mixed effects on maternal mental health but is viewed favorably by labor and delivery employees. Ongoing evaluation of new testing protocols is paramount to balance staff and patient safety with quality and equality of care. Key Points

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PW01-53 - Investigation of job satisfaction and mental health in health care workers in central Greece

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(10)71566-2 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 1585

Author(s):

A. Borou ◽

G. Wozniak ◽

Z. Roupa ◽

O. Mouzas

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Job Satisfaction ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Central Greece ◽

Care Workers

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Are women still “the other”? Gendered mental health interventions for health care workers in Spain during COVID-19.

Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy ◽

10.1037/tra0000751 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (S1) ◽

pp. S243-S244 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mayte López-Atanes ◽

María Recio-Barbero ◽

Margarita Sáenz-Herrero

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Health Interventions ◽

The Other ◽

Care Workers ◽

Mental Health Interventions

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COVID-19 is having a destructive impact on health-care workers’ mental well-being

International Journal for Quality in Health Care ◽

10.1093/intqhc/mzaa158 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kris Vanhaecht ◽

Deborah Seys ◽

Luk Bruyneel ◽

Bianca Cox ◽

Gorik Kaesemans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Residential Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Well Being ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Care Workers ◽

Sources Of Support ◽

Mental Well Being

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may aggravate workplace conditions that impact health-care workers’ mental health. However, it can also place other stresses on workers outside of their work. This study determines the effect of COVID-19 on symptoms of negative and positive mental health and the workforce’s experience with various sources of support. Effect modification by demographic variables was also studied. Methods A cross-sectional survey study, conducted between 2 April and 4 May 2020 (two waves), led to a convenience sample of 4509 health-care workers in Flanders (Belgium), including paramedics (40.6%), nurses (33.4%), doctors (13.4%) and management staff (12.2%). About three in four were employed in university and acute hospitals (29.6%), primary care practices (25.7%), residential care centers (21.3%) or care sites for disabled and mental health care. In each of the two waves, participants were asked how frequently (on a scale of 0–10) they experienced positive and negative mental health symptoms during normal circumstances and during last week, referred to as before and during COVID-19, respectively. These symptoms were stress, hypervigilance, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, unable to relax, fear, irregular lifestyle, flashback, difficulty concentrating, feeling unhappy and dejected, failing to recognize their own emotional response, doubting knowledge and skills and feeling uncomfortable within the team. Associations between COVID-19 and mental health symptoms were estimated by cumulative logit models and reported as odds ratios. The needed support was our secondary outcome and was reported as the degree to which health-care workers relied on sources of support and how they experienced them. Results All symptoms were significantly more pronounced during versus before COVID-19. For hypervigilance, there was a 12-fold odds (odds ratio 12.24, 95% confidence interval 11.11–13.49) during versus before COVID-19. Positive professional symptoms such as the feeling that one can make a difference were less frequently experienced. The association between COVID-19 and mental health was generally strongest for the age group 30–49 years, females, nurses and residential care centers. Health-care workers reported to rely on support from relatives and peers. A considerable proportion, respectively, 18 and 27%, reported the need for professional guidance from psychologists and more support from their leadership. Conclusions The toll of the crisis has been heavy on health-care workers. Those who carry leadership positions at an organizational or system level should take this opportunity to develop targeted strategies to mitigate key stressors of health-care workers’ mental well-being.

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Social support and mental health among health care workers during Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreak: A moderated mediation model

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0233831 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. e0233831 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Tianya Hou ◽

Taiquan Zhang ◽

Wenpeng Cai ◽

Xiangrui Song ◽

Aibin Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Moderated Mediation ◽

Mediation Model ◽

Moderated Mediation Model ◽

Care Workers

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Correction to: Mental health training for primary health care workers and implication for success of integration of mental health into primary care: evaluation of effect on knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP)

International Journal of Mental Health Systems ◽

10.1186/s13033-017-0175-x ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Getinet Ayano ◽

Dawit Assefa ◽

Kibrom Haile ◽

Asrat Chaka ◽

Kelemua Haile ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Primary Care ◽

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Mental Health Training ◽

Health Training ◽

Primary Health ◽

Care Workers ◽

Care Evaluation

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A comprehensive public mental health programme in Guinea-Bissau: a useful model for African, Asian and Latin-American countries

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291700033742 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 97-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Joop T. V. M. De Jong

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Public Mental Health ◽

Diagnostic Sensitivity ◽

Primary Health ◽

Mental Health Programme ◽

Care Workers ◽

Health Programme

SynopsisFrom 1983–1994 a community mental health programme was set up in Guinea-Bissau. The first part of the programme concentrated on epidemiological aspects: rural and urban study areas were selected on socio-economic level and participation in the liberation war. A two-stage design was used to screen 351 adult consecutive general health care attenders and 100 children in a rural and an urban area for mental disorder. Psychiatric disorders have a morbidity of 12% among adults seen in Primary Health Care. Disorders were mainly neuroses (74%), but more psychoses were found than in other countries. No statistically significant difference in morbidity was found between rural-urban areas or between previous war and non-war zones. The diagnostic sensitivity of the Primary Health Care workers was 31%, their diagnostic specificity 88%. Thirteen per cent of the children showed neuropsychiatric disturbances. There were no sociocultural impediments to this public mental health approach. During the following intervention programme 850 Primary Health Care workers were trained and supervised nationwide. The diagnostic sensitivity of major mental disorders and epilepsy increased from 31% to an average of 85%. Before the training, their knowledge of the treatment of these disorders was nil whereas after training 82% of the patients received appropriate treatment. Moreover, this model programme shows a profitable cost/benefit ratio and a high sustainability over the last 10 years.

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Assessing mental health literacy of primary health care workers in Kenya: a cross-sectional survey

International Journal of Mental Health Systems ◽

10.1186/s13033-021-00481-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elijah Marangu ◽

Fethi Mansouri ◽

Natisha Sands ◽

David Ndetei ◽

Peterson Muriithi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Mental Health Literacy ◽

Primary Health ◽

Primary Health Care Services ◽

Care Workers

Abstract Aim To assess mental health literacy of health workers in primary health care services in Kenya. Background Mental illness is common in Kenya, yet there are fewer than 500 specialist mental health workers to serve Kenya’s population of over 50 million. The World Health Organization recommends the integration of mental health care into primary health care services to improve access to and equity of this care, especially in low and middle-income countries. An important step to integrating mental health care into primary health care services is to determine mental health literacy levels of the primary health care workforce. Method A cross-sectional survey using Jorm’s Mental Health Literacy Instrument (adapted for the Kenyan context) was administered to 310 primary health care workers in four counties of Kenya. Results Of the 310 questionnaires distributed, 212 (68.3%) were returned. Of the respondents, 13% had a formal mental health qualification, while only 8.7% had received relevant continuing professional development in the five years preceding the survey. Just over one third (35.6%) of primary health care workers could correctly identify depression, with even fewer recognising schizophrenia (15.7%). Conclusions This study provides preliminary information about mental health literacy among primary health care workers in Kenya. The majority of respondents had low mental health literacy as indicated by their inability to identify common mental disorders. While identifying gaps in primary health care workers’ mental health knowledge, these data highlight opportunities for capacity building that can enhance mental health care in Kenya and similar low and middle-income countries.

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