Feasibility and Effectiveness of Telecounseling on the Psychological Problems of Frontline Healthcare Workers Amidst COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial from Central India

Background: Preliminary reports suggest that during the COVID-19 pandemic, telecounseling could be an effective model of psychological intervention for the frontline healthcare workers (fHCW) with psychological problems. Literature is sparse in this area, particularly from low- and middle-income countries, including India. We aimed to investigate the feasibility and the effectiveness of telecounseling (vs. general education) on the psychological problems of the fHCW over three time-points (baseline vs. end-of-session and at two and four weeks after the intervention). Methods: The study followed a single-blind, active arm versus general education, parallel-group randomized control design, with participant allocation in 1:1. Active healthcare workers (HCWs) with mild- to-severe or clinically concerning scores on any of the sub-scales of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) or Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R; represented by higher scores) were included, while those with known psychiatric illness were excluded. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U test and linear-mixed effect model (group-, time, and group by time-effect) were used for analysis. Results: There were no baseline group differences (telecounseling group, active arm, n = 9; general education group, control arm, n = 10). A significant time-effect (P = 0.044 to <.001) was found on DASS-21 on intention-to-treat analysis. Per-protocol analysis, additionally, found a significant group effect on Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R; P = 0.036). A significant random effect of the participants was also found (P <.001). Conclusion: Telecounseling could be a feasible and scalable model of psychological interventions for the fHCW with psychological problems, albeit with some feasibility challenges.

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Comparison of Psychological Stress Levels and Associated Factors Among Healthcare Workers, Frontline Workers, and the General Public During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.583971 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Rongrong Luan ◽

Weidan Pu ◽

Lilei Dai ◽

Rui Yang ◽

Peng Wang

Keyword(s):

Psychological Stress ◽

General Public ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Online Survey ◽

The Novel ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

Frontline Workers ◽

Occupation Group ◽

Novel Coronavirus

Objective: We aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the psychological stress experienced by healthcare workers, frontline workers, and the general public and to assess the factors associated with psychological stress in each of these groups.Methods: We conducted an online survey targeting healthcare workers, frontline workers, and the general public. Psychological stress was assessed with the revised impact of event scale (IES-R). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted.Results: We surveyed 1,336 participants (64.6% female; mean age, 36.6). The occupation group distribution of respondents was 50.7% healthcare workers, 27.2% frontline workers, and 22.1% general public. The healthcare (23.6 ± 15.8) and frontline (23.6 ± 17.8) workers had higher IES-R scores than the general public (15.3 ± 10.6; p < 0.01). Poor health perception and perception of infection avoidance were associated with psychological stress in the healthcare and frontline workers, but not in the general public.Conclusion: Both healthcare and frontline workers are suffering elevated psychological stress, compared to the general public, and this elevated stress may be related especially to their perceptions of their own health and infection risk. Interventions addressing these factors should be developed to alleviate psychological stress in these populations, and thus reduce their risk of mental illness pathogenesis.

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Evaluation of Health Workers' Levels of Intolerance, Impact of Event, Anxiety, Depression, and Somatization in the Early Period of the COVID Epidemic

10.22541/au.161370176.67403897/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

RAHİME HÜLYA BINGOL CAGLAYAN ◽

İBRAHİM G. BAŞER ◽

ŞAZİYE SENEM BAŞGÜL ◽

AKİF AVCU ◽

FİLİZ MEGA GÜLER ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Health Workers ◽

Short Form ◽

Early Period ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

Study Results ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

The Impact

Aim: This study aimed to assess uncertainty tolerances and determine the levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and somatization in healthcare workers who fight on the frontline, at the highest risk but seek the least help during the pandemic. Methodology: The data of this cross-sectional study was collected by online delivery of a short form of Health Anxiety Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire, the Impact of Event Scale, and Demographic Information Form to 106 medical staff consisting of medical doctors and nurses. At the start of the Coronavirus outbreak in Turkey, convenient sampling was used because of the difficulty in reaching healthcare workers. The mean scores of the scales were compared with ANOVA between the study groups. In case of significant differences, Bonferroni posthoc analysis was used to compare the subgroups. Findings: A total of 106 healthcare workers consisted of three groups: the first group; 28 workers who were temporarily not working during data collection; 46 workers working with non-COVID 19 patients in a non-pandemic hospital; 32 subjects working with COVID 19 patients in a pandemic hospital. The working conditions, institution’s type where physicians work for, and whether physicians previously received psychological support showed significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: According to our study results, healthcare workers working with COVID 19 patients reported higher levels of psychological symptoms. This study is crucial to reveal the significant effects of working with COVID 19 patients on healthcare workers’ mental health, especially in the early period of the 2020 epidemic.

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The “Healthcare Workers’ Wellbeing (Benessere Operatori)” Project: A Picture of the Mental Health Conditions of Italian Healthcare Workers during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105267 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5267

Author(s):

Valentina Di Mattei ◽

Gaia Perego ◽

Francesca Milano ◽

Martina Mazzetti ◽

Paola Taranto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Anger Expression ◽

Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Depression Anxiety Stress Scale ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

The Impact

During the last year, the COVID-19 outbreak put all the healthcare workers around the world at risk of physical and psychological sequelae. The general purpose of the present study was to assess the mental health of Italian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak and to identify high-risk groups. Here, we present results from the baseline assessment of the “Healthcare workers’ wellbeing (Benessere Operatori)” project on a sample of 1055 healthcare workers. Participants completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Healthcare workers who worked in COVID wards reported higher levels of anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress, anger, and burnout, compared to those reported by the healthcare workers who worked in non-COVID wards. Moreover, nurses, both in COVID and non-COVID wards, were at higher risk of experiencing psychological distress compared to other groups of healthcare workers. These findings highlight the importance of implementing targeted psychological interventions for healthcare workers operating in COVID wards and nurses, who seem to be the most vulnerable categories.

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Mental Health Status among Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic

Iranian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.18502/ijps.v16i3.6250 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ali Kheradmand ◽

Mahsa Mahjani ◽

Ali Pirsalehi ◽

Somayeh Fatemizadeh ◽

Mohammadreza Moshari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

High Risk Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

Mental Problems ◽

Referral Hospitals

Objective: COVID-19, which is an international concern by far, had fundamental impacts on mental health of medical staff. Healthcare workers are the high-risk group to endure the emotional outcomes brought about by the outbreak. This study assesses the mental consequences of healthcare workers during the acute phase of COVID-19 pandemic in Tehran. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study on healthcare workers from two tertiary referral hospitals in Tehran province. A total of 222 of the staff participated in the study. Our questionnaires comprised Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), which were handed to participants to obtain data on their general mental problems in addition to the psychological impacts of the evolving virus on this particular group. Epidemiologic and sociodemographic information of participants, level of perceiving exposure to disease, and underlying diseases of each of them were gathered during the recruitment period. Results: Results showed high probabilities (98.2%) in mental disorders among healthcare workers. Since our study was done during the initial phase of the pandemic, development of mental issues due to the newly emerged infectious virus was expected. However, we recorded mild (41.4%) to moderate (31.5%) impact of this novel virus. The possibility of having mental problems was much higher in females, assistant nurses, individuals with lower education, and those who provided care for COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: COVID-19 has brought about increased distress among healthcare workers. Noticeably, the forefront group in combating this virus bear the most emotional complications. Thus, efforts should be taken into practice to provide proper psychological support for this vulnerable group.

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PTSD and Depression in Healthcare Workers in the Italian Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak

Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health ◽

10.2174/1745017902117010242 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 242-252

Author(s):

Claudia Carmassi ◽

Virginia Pedrinelli ◽

Valerio Dell’Oste ◽

Carlo Antonio Bertelloni ◽

Chiara Grossi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Acute Phase ◽

Social Adjustment ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

Quality Of Life Scale ◽

Post Traumatic

Background: Increasing evidence highlights the susceptibility of Healthcare Workers to develop psychopathological sequelae, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression, in the current COronaVIrus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, but little data have been reported in the acute phase of the pandemic. Objective: To explore Healthcare Workers’ mental health reactions in the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first European epicenter (Lodi/Codogno, Italy), with particular attention to post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms and their interplay with other psychological outcomes. Methods: 74 Healthcare Workers employed at the Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale of Lodi (Lombardy, Italy) were recruited and assessed by means of the Impact of Event Scale- Revised, the Professional Quality of Life Scale-5, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item, the Resilience Scale and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were compared across three subgroups of the sample (No PTSD, PTSD only, PTSD and depression). Results: A total of 31% of subjects endorsed a diagnosis of PTSD and 28.4% reported PTSD comorbid with major depression. Females were more prone to develop post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms. Subjects with PTSD and depression groups showed high levels of PTSD, depression, burnout and impairment in functioning. Anxiety symptoms were higher in both PTSD and depression and PTSD groups rather than in the No PTSD group. Conclusion: Our results showed high rates of PTSD and depression among Healthcare Workers and their comorbidity overall being associated with worse outcomes. Current findings suggest that interventions to prevent and treat psychological implications among Healthcare Workers facing infectious outbreaks are needed.

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COVID-19 pandemic distress among a sample of Italian psycho-oncologists: risk of isolation and loneliness

Tumori Journal ◽

10.1177/0300891621992129 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 030089162199212

Author(s):

Anna Costantini ◽

Eva Mazzotti ◽

Samantha Serpentini ◽

Angela Piattelli ◽

Dorella Scarponi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Well Being ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Interactive System ◽

Distress Screening ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

And Behavior ◽

Peritraumatic Distress

Purpose: To measure the prevalence and characteristics of distress and hope for the future among psycho-oncologists, who faced the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency along with other healthcare workers. Methods: A web-based study was conducted among members of the Italian Society of Psycho-Oncology between May 29 and June 5, 2020. Results: A total of 237 members, aged 28–72 years, completed the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI), Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R), and HOPE questionnaires; 86.92% were female, 58.65% worked in hospitals, 21.10% were exposed to COVID-19, 11.39% experienced peritraumatic distress, and 3.38% had posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Peritraumatic distress was associated with living alone (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41–8.13), using sleep remedies (AOR 3.79; 95% CI 1.41–10.21), and the perception of being avoided by family or friends because of work (AOR 2.69; 95% CI 1.02–7.11); high HOPE-Agency scores were associated with the absence of peritraumatic stress (AOR 0.40; 95% CI 0.16–0.96) after adjustment for age and sex. Conclusions: Psycho-oncologists showed greater resilience than other healthcare workers as they are trained to help others, but also to review their own values and behavior in light of stressful events. Of interest is the association between peritraumatic distress and social isolation, real or perceived. Healthcare institutions should pay attention to the mental well-being of their employees by promoting distress screening using simple tools such as the CPDI and implementing support interventions. Psycho-oncology associations should introduce policies aimed at developing a sense of social connectedness by providing an interactive system of orientation and scientific reference.

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Online survey to assess the psychological problems among the frontline healthcare workers during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic and their psychosocial determinants: an Indian perspective

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2021.290 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Shashank Purwar ◽

Rahat Jahan ◽

Disha Gautam ◽

Snehil Gupta ◽

Abhijit R. Rozatkar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Problems ◽

Psychosocial Determinants ◽

Frontline Healthcare Workers ◽

Indian Perspective

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Modifikation der IES-R zur Diagnostik posttraumatischer Belastung bei Traumatisierung durch die Diagnose Krebs

Diagnostica ◽

10.1026/0012-1924/a000039 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. 84-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Annette F. Bölter ◽

Julia Lange ◽

Bernd Anger ◽

Christian Geiser ◽

Heinz-Martin Süß ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung ◽

Impact Of Event Scale ◽

Event Scale ◽

Dsm Iv

Zusammenfassung. Nach DSM-IV können lebensbedrohliche Erkrankungen wie Krebs eine Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung (PTSD) auslösen. Der Erfassung mit üblichen PTSD-Diagnoseinstrumenten wie der Impact-of-Event-Scale (IES-R) mangelt es jedoch an Validität. Methodik: Ein krebsspezifisches PTSD-Konzept wurde theoriebasiert entwickelt und über die IES-R sowie neu formulierte Items erfasst. 400 Rehabilitationspatienten mit heterogenen Tumordiagnosen und Diagnosestellung vor max. einem Jahr wurden untersucht. Faktorenanalytisch (CFA) wurde ein Screeninginstrument, der Fragebogen zur krebsspezifischen posttraumatischen Belastung (PTB-KS), entwickelt. Der Reliabilitätsanalyse folgte eine Konstruktvalidierung. Ergebnis: Die statistischen Analysen unterstützen die Modellannahmen (χ2/df = 2.28; CFI = .960; RMSEA = .057). Der PTB-KS umfasst auf vier Skalen Intrusionen und Vermeidung (IES-R), krebsspezifische Belastung sowie Fehlanpassung. Reliabilität und konvergente Validität sind zufriedenstellend, die diskriminante Validität ist nicht hinreichend gesichert. Diskussion: Das erweiterte diagnostische Modell verbessert die Erfassung von posttraumatischer Belastung bei Krebspatienten. Aus klinischer Sicht eignet es sich trotz methodischer Einschränkungen als Screeninginstrument.

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