Covid-19 effects on the workload of Iranian healthcare workers

Abstract Background In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the workload and mental health of Iranian medical staff using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and NASA -Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) Questionnaire between March and April 2020, respectively. Methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted from March 5th to April 5th, 2020. To evaluate the workload and mental health of participants NASA-TLX and GHQ-12 online questionnaires were distributed. Data were entered into software SPSS (Version 23) and T-test, ANOVA, Regression methods were used for data analysis. Results Health workers who encountered COVID- 19 patients, were subjected to more task load compared to those who had no contact with COVID- 19 patients at the workplace (p < 0.001). In terms of the subscale score of NASA-TLX, nurses had more scores in mental pressure, physical pressure, time pressure (temporal), and frustration compared to the other jobs (p < 0.05). Moreover, nurses had significantly more workload compared to the other jobs. Conclusions Type of job, the shift of work, educational level, and facing COVID-19 affected the score of NASA-TLX. NASA-TLX scores were higher in nursing compared to the scores of other health staff groups. The results of this study indicate that the scores of NASA-TLX and GHQ-12 among staff who had contact with COVID-19 patients were significantly higher than those who did not face COVID-19 patients. We suggested that a comprehensive assistance should be provided to support the well-being of healthcare workers especially nurses and healthcare workers who treated COVID-19 patients.

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Covid-19 effects on the workload of Iranian healthcare workers

10.21203/rs.3.rs-27866/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Esmail Shoja ◽

Vahideh Aghamohammadi ◽

Hadi Bazyar ◽

Hamed Rezakhani Moghaddam ◽

Khadijeh Nasiri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Time Pressure ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Subscale Score ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

The Other ◽

Health Staff ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Nasa Tlx ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundIn this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the workload and mental health of Iranian medical staffs using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and NASA-TLX Questionnaire between March and April 2020, respectively.MethodsThe present cross-sectional study was conducted from March 5th to April 5th, 2020. Three online questionnaires (NASA-TLX, GHQ-12, and demographic) were distributed. Data were entered into software SPSS (Version 23) and T-test, ANOVA, Regression methods were used for data analysis.ResultsHealth workers who encountered COVID- 19 patients, were subjected to more task load compared to those who had no contact with COVID- 19 patients at the workplace (p<0.001). In terms of the subscale score of NASA-TLX, nurses had more scores in mental pressure, physical pressure, time pressure(temporal), and frustration compared to the other jobs (p<0.05). Moreover, nurses had significantly more workload compared to the other jobs.ConclusionsType of job, the shift of work, educational level, and facing COVID-19 affected the score of NASA-TLX. Generally, NASA-TLX scores were higher in nursing compared to the scores of other health staff groups. The results of this study indicate that the total workload and mental health levels of those staff who had contact with COVID-19 patients were significantly higher than those who did not face COVID-19 patients.

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Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers in different regions of the world

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.689 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (S1) ◽

pp. S258-S258

Author(s):

Mahfuja Islam ◽

Philip George ◽

Sindhu Sankaran ◽

Janet Leu Su Hui ◽

Tzun Kit

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Assessment ◽

Survey Tool ◽

Frontline Workers ◽

The World ◽

The Impact

AimsThe global health system is facing a serious challenge after the recent outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus infection which was first identified in Wuhan, China in November 2019 and declared as a pandemic in March 2020 by WHO. There is a wide consensus that this pandemic has negative psychosocial consequences as well as unforeseeable provision of mental health care services and just not on physical health alone. The aim of this research study is to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and to identify the sociodemographic variables with the main attributable factors associated with the psychological distress among healthcare workers and suggestions on how to reduce the impact on the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in different regions of the world.MethodWe performed a cross-sectional study from September-November 2020. We used a self-administered survey tool which was distributed electronically to healthcare workers across the globe. The data were stored on an online database with password protected devices where survey responses were restricted to investigators exclusively.Data collected were: 1) Socio-demographic data (age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, religion, role in the healthcare, region of practice); 2) Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) questionnaire which contains 22 standardized items. This is a subjective assessment to score the degree of psychological well-being by focusing on 6 domains: depression; anxiety; positive-well-being; self-control; vitality and general health; 3) Subjective assessment from respondents of the main attributable factors causing psychological distress and suggested methods to help reduce the impact on mental health on health care workers.ResultMajority out of the 217 respondents were from a younger age group; females and married/domestic partnership, mainly from Western Pacific Region, South East Asian and the African Region. More than half the respondents were moderate-severely psychologically distressed and the three main attributable factors causing psychological distress were: fear of family/friends contracting COVID-19 followed by lack of PPE and discomfort caused by wearing PPE for long hours. Respondents suggested that the distress would be reduced if: more resources were provided in hospital; protocols and guidelines were implemented and counselling facilities with recreational activities were available to frontline workers.ConclusionThis study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of healthcare workers and more support or strategies need to come in place to protect frontline workers at the time of crises.

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Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers in different regions of the world

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.690 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (S1) ◽

pp. S258-S259

Author(s):

Mahfuja Islam ◽

Philip George ◽

Sindhu Sankaran ◽

Janet Leu Su Hui ◽

Tzun Kit

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Assessment ◽

Survey Tool ◽

Frontline Workers ◽

The World ◽

The Impact

AimsThe global health system is facing a serious challenge after the recent outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus infection which was first identified in Wuhan, China in November 2019 and declared as a pandemic in March 2020 by WHO. There is a wide consensus that this pandemic has negative psychosocial consequences as well as unforeseeable provision of mental health care services and just not on physical health alone. The aim of this research study is to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and to identify the sociodemographic variables with the main attributable factors associated with the psychological distress among healthcare workers and suggestions on how to reduce the impact on the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in different regions of the world.MethodWe performed a cross-sectional study from September-November 2020. We used a self-administered survey tool which was distributed electronically to healthcare workers across the globe. The data were stored on an online database with password protected devices where survey responses were restricted to investigators exclusively.Data collected were: 1) Socio-demographic data (age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, religion, role in the healthcare, region of practice); 2) Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) questionnaire which contains 22 standardized items. This is a subjective assessment to score the degree of psychological well-being by focusing on 6 domains: depression; anxiety; positive-well-being; self-control; vitality and general health; 3) Subjective assessment from respondents of the main attributable factors causing psychological distress and suggested methods to help reduce the impact on mental health on health care workers.ResultMajority out of the 217 respondents were from a younger age group; females and married/domestic partnership, mainly from Western Pacific Region, South East Asian and the African Region. More than half the respondents were moderate-severely psychologically distressed and the three main attributable factors causing psychological distress were: fear of family/friends contracting COVID-19 followed by lack of PPE and discomfort caused by wearing PPE for long hours. Respondents suggested that the distress would be reduced if: more resources were provided in hospital; protocols and guidelines were implemented and counselling facilities with recreational activities were available to frontline workers.ConclusionThis study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of healthcare workers and more support or strategies need to come in place to protect frontline workers at the time of crises.

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Impact of co-located welfare advice in healthcare settings: prospective quasi-experimental controlled study

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.117.202713 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 211 (6) ◽

pp. 388-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Charlotte Woodhead ◽

Mizanur Khondoker ◽

Robin Lomas ◽

Rosalind Raine

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Service Use ◽

Common Mental Disorder ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Well Being ◽

Financial Strain ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Consultation Rate ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

The Impact

BackgroundEvaluations of primary healthcare co-located welfare advice services have been methodologically limited.AimsTo examine the impact and cost-consequences of co-located benefits and debt advice on mental health and service use.MethodProspective, controlled quasi-experimental study in eight intervention and nine comparator sites across North Thames. Changes in the proportion meeting criteria for common mental disorder (CMD, 12-item General Health Questionnaire); well-being scores (Shortened Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale), 3-month GP consultation rate and financial strain were measured alongside funding costs and financial gains.ResultsRelative to controls, CMD reduced among women (ratio of odds ratios (rOR) = 0.37, 95% CI 0.20–0.70) and Black advice recipients (rOR=0.09, 95% CI 0.03–0.28). Individuals whose advice resulted in positive outcomes demonstrated improved well-being scores (β coefficient 1.29, 95% CI 0.25–2.32). Reductions in financial strain (rOR=042, 95% CI 0.23–0.77) but no changes in 3-month consultation rate were found. Per capita, advice recipients received £15 per £1 of funder investment.ConclusionsCo-located welfare advice improves short-term mental health and well-being, reduces financial strain and generates considerable financial returns.

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High levels of psychosocial distress among Australian frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

General Psychiatry ◽

10.1136/gpsych-2021-100577 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. e100577

Author(s):

Natasha Smallwood ◽

Leila Karimi ◽

Marie Bismark ◽

Mark Putland ◽

Douglas Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Primary Care ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Allied Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Staff ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Frontline Healthcare Workers

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound and prolonged impact on healthcare services and healthcare workers.AimsThe Australian COVID-19 Frontline Healthcare Workers Study aimed to investigate the severity and prevalence of mental health issues, as well as the social, workplace and financial disruptions experienced by Australian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA nationwide, voluntary, anonymous, single timepoint, online survey was conducted between 27 August and 23 October 2020. Individuals self-identifying as frontline healthcare workers in secondary or primary care were invited to participate. Participants were recruited through health organisations, professional associations or colleges, universities, government contacts and national media. Demographics, home and work situation, health and psychological well-being data were collected.ResultsA total of 9518 survey responses were received; of the 9518 participants, 7846 (82.4%) participants reported complete data. With regard to age, 4110 (52.4%) participants were younger than 40 years; 6344 (80.9%) participants were women. Participants were nurses (n=3088, 39.4%), doctors (n=2436, 31.1%), allied health staff (n=1314, 16.7%) or in other roles (n=523, 6.7%). In addition, 1250 (15.9%) participants worked in primary care. Objectively measured mental health symptoms were common: mild to severe anxiety (n=4694, 59.8%), moderate to severe burnout (n=5458, 70.9%) and mild to severe depression (n=4495, 57.3%). Participants were highly resilient (mean (SD)=3.2 (0.66)). Predictors for worse outcomes on all scales included female gender; younger age; pre-existing psychiatric condition; experiencing relationship problems; nursing, allied health or other roles; frontline area; being worried about being blamed by colleagues and working with patients with COVID-19.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic is associated with significant mental health symptoms in frontline healthcare workers. Crisis preparedness together with policies and practices addressing psychological well-being are needed.

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PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF STRESS AMONG COVID 19 HEALTH WORKERS IN KABWE DISTRICT: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

10.1101/2021.12.20.21267832 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Leah L. Mukwasa ◽

Emmy Nkhama ◽

Mowa Zambwe ◽

Richard Mutemwa ◽

Peter J. Chipimo

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Health Workers ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers ◽

The Impact ◽

Depth Interviews

This study aimed at determining the magnitude of stress among COVID 19 health workers in Kabwe district. METHODS The study was a cross-sectional study which recruited 138 health care workers managing COVID 19 cases in Kabwe. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 while qualitative data was analyzed using Nvivo8. RESULTS The study obtained 100% responses from the respondents and the prevalence of stress among the respondents was 73%. The nurses were more perceived to experience stress compared to the pharmacy personnel (28% vs. 3%). Similarly, women displayed a higher likelihood of experiencing stress compared to men. Lack of support, increased workload and fear were among the factors leading to stress. CONCLUSION The study went out to determine stress among healthcare workers in Kabwe district. It was established that nurses were more vulnerable than groups. And women were found to be more stressed than men. It is therefore recommended that effective and meaningful interventions be put in place to mitigate the impact of long-term psychological distress and physical well-being in healthcare workers during the COVID 19 pandemic and future outbreaks.

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Coping Styles, Mental Health, and the COVID-19 Quarantine: A Nationwide Survey in Poland

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.625355 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Agata Kołodziejczyk ◽

Błazej Misiak ◽

Dorota Szcześniak ◽

Julian Maciaszek ◽

Marta Ciułkowicz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Coping Styles ◽

Infected Individual ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Well Being ◽

Event Scale ◽

Psychopathological Symptoms ◽

The Impact

Background: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 that began from March 2020 is yet to be contained. Consequences of the ongoing pandemic may have a negative impact on the mental health of affected individuals. This particularly refers to those quarantined. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is currently one of the biggest health issues worldwide, a higher demand emerges for research concentrating on the worsening of psychological well-being among the general and the quarantined population, as well as on individual coping strategies that may moderate the occurrence of psychopathologies.Method: Data were collected within the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. Participants represented quarantine (+) and quarantine (–) groups. Quarantine (+) group, different from quarantine (–), consisted of people who experienced it themselves or someone close to them did after contacting an infected individual. To measure psychopathological symptoms a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used. For measuring PTSD symptoms, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used. This study followed the coping strategies manifested among the participants using the MiniCope questionnaire.Results: A total of 2,036 individuals participated in this study. Quarantine (+) individuals had significantly higher total and subscales GHQ-28 scores (anxiety, insomnia, and somatic symptoms) as well as a higher IES-R arousal score. The quarantine (+) individuals were more likely to use self-distraction as a coping strategy. This research identified positive and negative correlations between presented coping styles and manifested psychopathology.Conclusion: This nationwide study suggests occurrence of negative effects on mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. It is observed on most of the measured psychopathological symptoms. The present research provides a line of action that should be followed in the future in case of another epidemic and in the event restrictions like quarantine have to be introduced again.

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COVID-19 impact on doctors and health workers

Orthodontic Journal of Nepal ◽

10.3126/ojn.v10i2.31060 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 2-5

Author(s):

Rabindra Man Shrestha ◽

Arun Raj Kunwar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Present Article ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Health Workers ◽

Current Situation ◽

Psychological Effects ◽

Health Measures ◽

The Social ◽

The Impact

The present article probes the current situation of doctors and health workers in Nepal as the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. It mainly discusses the social, occupational and psychological effects on the professionals. The article also documents the global occurrences and data related to COVID-19 pandemic. Lastly, it enlists the key recommendations to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and mental health measures to protect the health of the healthcare workers.

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Detrimental changes to the health and well-being of healthcare workers in an Australian COVID-19 hospital

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-021-07013-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Joanne M Stubbs ◽

Helen M Achat ◽

Suzanne Schindeler

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Well Being ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Chi Square ◽

Distress Scale ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being

Abstract Background Most studies examining the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers (HCWs) have assessed well-being during the initial stages or the peak of the first wave of the pandemic. We aimed to measure the impact of COVID-19 and potential changes over time in its impact, on the health and well-being of HCWs in an Australian COVID-19 hospital. Methods An online questionnaire assessed current and retrospective physical and mental health; psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale); lifestyle behaviours; and demographics, providing measures of health and wellbeing at three phases of the pandemic. Targeted staff were invited to participate via email and in-person. Additional promotional activities were directed to all staff. Changes in general health, mental health and psychological distress were examined using McNemar’s Chi-square. Associations between other categorical variables were tested using Chi-Square or non-parametric equivalents as appropriate. Logistic regression explored risk factors for current distress. Results Four hundred thirty-three eligible HCWs answered all (74 %) or part of the questionnaire. Current self-rated health and mental health were significantly better than during the height of the pandemic, but had not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Psychological distress was significantly more common during the height of the pandemic (34.2 %) than currently (22.4 %), and during the height of the pandemic distress was significantly more common among younger than older HCWs. Females were significantly more likely to be distressed that males currently, but not during the height of the pandemic. High distress during the height of the pandemic was more likely to be maintained by HCWs who were less physically active than usual during the height of the pandemic (OR = 5.5); had low self-rated mental health before the pandemic (OR = 4.8); and who had 10 or more years of professional experience (OR = 3.9). Conclusions The adverse effects of the pandemic on HCWs have lessened with the easing of pandemic demands, but health and well-being have not reverted to pre-pandemic levels. This indicates continued exposure to elevated levels of stress and/or a sustained effect of earlier exposure. Initiatives that provide ongoing support beyond the pandemic are needed to ensure that HCWs remain physically and mentally healthy and are able to continue their invaluable work.

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