Factors associated with mental health outcomes in emergency department healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on various sectors and industries around the world. Globally, healthcare workers and first responders have found themselves faced with unprecedented challenges, both within and outside of the workplace. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this research was to identify and explore the complex mental health outcomes resulting from the various new challenges experienced by healthcare workers and first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted in an effort to understand the mental health outcomes resulting from the various challenges and barriers faced while working during the pandemic. A total of 31 healthcare workers and first responders were interviewed. RESULTS The mental health outcomes described were not isolated to increased stress and anxiety; participants also described complex experiences, perspectives, and feelings related to guilt, stoicism, helplessness, fear, and anger. This paper adds to the current body of literature by further exploring the personal experiences and perspectives of healthcare workers and first responders related to these complex mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Continued exploration, understanding, and awareness is needed in order to continue working towards addressing these outcomes and offering potential solutions.

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Factors associated with mental health outcomes across healthcare settings in Oman during COVID-19: frontline versus non-frontline healthcare workers

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042030 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. e042030 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Muna Alshekaili ◽

Walid Hassan ◽

Nazik Al Said ◽

Fatima Al Sulaimani ◽

Sathish Kumar Jayapal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Online Survey ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Mental Health Status ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Healthcare Settings ◽

Frontline Healthcare Workers

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess and compare demographic and psychological factors and sleep status of frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) in relation to non-frontline HCWs.Design, settings, participants and outcomesThis cross-sectional study was conducted from 8 April 2020 to 17 April 2020 using an online survey across varied healthcare settings in Oman accruing 1139 HCWs.The primary and secondary outcomes were mental health status and sociodemographic data, respectively. Mental health status was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and insomnia was evaluated by the Insomnia Severity Index. Samples were categorised into the frontline and non-frontline groups. χ2 and t-tests were used to compare groups by demographic data. The Mantel-Haenszel OR was used to compare groups by mental health outcomes adjusted by all sociodemographic factors.ResultsThis study included 1139 HCWs working in Oman. While working during the pandemic period, a total of 368 (32.3%), 388 (34.1%), 271 (23.8%) and 211 (18.5%) respondents were reported to have depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia, respectively. HCWs in the frontline group were 1.5 times more likely to report anxiety (OR=1.557, p=0.004), stress (OR=1.506, p=0.016) and insomnia (OR=1.586, p=0.013) as compared with those in the non-frontline group. No significant differences in depression status were found between the frontline and non-frontline groups (p=0.201).ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the differential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on different grades of HCWs. This study suggests that frontline HCWs are disproportionally affected compared to non-frontline HCWs, with managing sleep–wake cycles and anxiety symptoms being highly endorsed among frontline HCWs. As psychosocial interventions are likely to be constrained owing to the pandemic, mental healthcare must first be directed to frontline HCWs.

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Factors Associated With Adverse Mental Health Outcomes in Locally Recruited Aid Workers Assisting Iraqi Refugees in Jordan

Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma ◽

10.1080/10926771.2013.803506 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 660-680 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Cynthia B. Eriksson ◽

Barbara Lopes Cardozo ◽

Frida Ghitis ◽

Miriam Sabin ◽

Carol Gotway Crawford ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Aid Workers ◽

Iraqi Refugees ◽

Factors Associated

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Racial and Gender Discrimination Predict Mental Health Outcomes among Healthcare Workers Beyond Pandemic-Related Stressors: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18179235 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (17) ◽

pp. 9235

Author(s):

Rachel Hennein ◽

Jessica Bonumwezi ◽

Max Jordan Nguemeni Tiako ◽

Petty Tineo ◽

Sarah Lowe

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Gender Discrimination ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

And Gender

Racial and gender discrimination are risk factors for adverse mental health outcomes in the general population; however, the effects of discrimination on the mental health of healthcare workers needs to be further explored, especially in relation to competing stressors. Thus, we administered a survey to healthcare workers to investigate the associations between perceived racial and gender discrimination and symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and burnout during a period of substantial stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic and a national racial reckoning. We used multivariable linear regression models, which controlled for demographics and pandemic-related stressors. Of the 997 participants (Mean Age = 38.22 years, SD = 11.77), 688 (69.01%) were White, 148 (14.84%) Asian, 86 (8.63%) Black, 73 (7.32%) Latinx, and 21 (2.11%) identified as another race. In multivariable models, racial discrimination predicted symptoms of depression (B = 0.04; SE: 0.02; p = .009), anxiety (B = 0.05; SE: 0.02; p = .004), and posttraumatic stress (B = 0.01; SE: 0.01; p = .006) and gender discrimination predicted posttraumatic stress (B = 0.11; SE: 0.05; p = .013) and burnout (B = 0.24; SE: 0.07; p = .001). Discrimination had indirect effects on mental health outcomes via inadequate social support. Hospital-wide diversity and inclusion initiatives are warranted to mitigate the adverse mental health effects of discrimination.

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Mental Health Outcomes Among Healthcare Workers and the General Population During the COVID-19 in Italy

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608986 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rodolfo Rossi ◽

Valentina Socci ◽

Francesca Pacitti ◽

Sonia Mensi ◽

Antinisca Di Marco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

General Population ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Female Gender ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Second Line ◽

Front Line ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Traumatic Symptoms

IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers in Italy have been exposed to an unprecedented pressure and traumatic events. However, no direct comparison with the general population is available so far. The aim of this study is to detail mental health outcomes in healthcare workers compared to the general population.Methods24050 respondents completed an on-line questionnaire during the contagion peak, 21342 general population, 1295 second-line healthcare workers, and 1411 front-line healthcare workers. Depressive, anxious, post-traumatic symptoms and insomnia were assessed. Specific COVID-19 related potential risk factors were also considered in healthcare workers.ResultsDepressive symptoms were more frequent in the general population (28.12%) and front-line healthcare workers (28.35%) compared to the second-line healthcare workers (19.98%) groups. Anxiety symptoms showed a prevalence of 21.25% in the general population, 18.05% for second-line healthcare workers, and 20.55% for front-line healthcare workers. Insomnia showed a prevalence of 7.82, 6.58, and 9.92% for the general population, second-line healthcare workers, and front-line healthcare workers, respectively. Compared to the general population, front-line healthcare workers had higher odds of endorsing total trauma-related symptoms. Both second-line healthcare workers and front-line healthcare workers had higher odds of endorsing core post-traumatic symptoms compared to the general population, while second-line healthcare workers had lower odds of endorsing negative affect and dissociative symptoms. Higher total traumatic symptom score was associated with being a front-line healthcare worker, having a colleague infected, hospitalized, or deceased, being a nurse, female gender, and younger age.ConclusionThis study suggests a significant psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Italian general population and healthcare workers. Front-line healthcare workers represent a specific at-risk population for post-traumatic symptoms. These findings underline the importance of monitoring and intervention strategies.

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