scholarly journals Mental Health and Associated Demographic and Occupational Factors among Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Latvia

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (12) ◽  
pp. 1381
Author(s):  
Laura Valaine ◽  
Gunta Ancāne ◽  
Artūrs Utināns ◽  
Ģirts Briģis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Occupational Factors ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Care Workers

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the health care system. Front-line health care workers (HCWs) are at a higher risk of mental health adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of the symptoms of depression and anxiety and associated demographic and occupational factors among front-line HCWs in Latvia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was performed in a population of HCWs during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia. The participants were interviewed between 28 April 2020 and 2 June 2020. Answers from 864 HCWs were obtained. The participants reported their demographics, work-related information, contacts with COVID-19-positive patients and completed two standardised questionnaires that assessed the symptoms of anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9). The gathered data were analysed by a chi-squared test and binary logistic regression. The data analysis was performed using SPSS v25. Results: A total of 209 (24.8%) participants had depression symptoms and 145 (17.2%) had anxiety symptoms. Health care workers older than 50 had a lower risk of both depression (OR 0.422 (95% CI, 0.262–0.680)) and anxiety (OR 0.468 (95% CI, 0.270–0.813)). General practitioners had more frequent symptoms of depression and anxiety than participants who worked at hospitals (32.8% (n = 63) versus 19.4% (n = 73) and 27.1% (n = 52) versus 10.3% (n = 39), respectively (p = 0.037; p < 0.000)). Working more than 48 h during the week was associated with a higher risk of depression (OR 2.222 (95% CI, 1.315–3.753)) and anxiety (OR 2.416 (95% CI, 1.272–4.586)). Conclusions: The vulnerability of the health care system before the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant mental health adverse outcomes of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia. A further cohort study is needed to evaluate the dynamics of mental health and other predisposing factors of HCWs.

scholarly journals AB0910-HPR LEVELS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: AT WHAT DEGREE ARE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AFFECTED IN TUNISIA?

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1477.2-1477
Author(s):  
K. Ben Abdelghani ◽  
O. Hamdi ◽  
S. Miladi ◽  
M. Sellami ◽  
K. Ouenniche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Psychological Support ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Mean

Background:Since December 2019, a novel pneumonia caused by coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) has been spreading internationally. Facing this critical pandemic, health care workers who are involved in treating these patients are at risk of developing psychological distress.Objectives:To evaluate mental health outcomes among health care workers treating patients exposed to COVID-19.Methods:This cross-sectional study collected demographic data and mental health measurements from health workers in different hospitals using an online questionnaire. Participants were divided in two groups: G1 included participants working in a COVID-19 unit and G2 included those who worked in a normal ward. Participants were asked to complete the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). The total scores of these measurement tools were interpreted as follows: PHQ-9 normal (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14) and severe (15-21) depression; GAD-7 normal (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14) and severe (15-21) anxiety. We compared the two groups in terms of psychological distress using a Chi-square test.Results:A total of 155 individuals with a mean age of 31.3 ± 25 years [26-45] and a sex-ratio of 0.3 completed the online questionnaire. Seventy-two participants (46%) worked in a COVID-unit. The mean number of nightshifts per month in the COVID-unit was 9.5 in G1 and 1.3 in G2 respectively. The mean number of work hours per day in the COVID unit was 5 hours in G1, and 0 in G2. G2 participants worked in COVID-units during nightshifts only. An increase in workload compared to the pre-epidemic was noted only in G1. Depression and anxiety scores were higher among participants of G1 compared to G2 (Table 1).Table 1.Comparison of the participants according to the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores:ScoreG1G2pMild depression33%12%0.001Moderate depression14%9%0.000Severe depression7%0.9%0.002Mild anxiety29%17%0.005Moderate anxiety18%7.3%0.002Severe anxiety8.4%2.1%0.001G: GroupThe need for psychological support was more frequent in G1 compared to G2 (38% vs 9%; p=0.005). Participants of G1 were diagnosed with depression (9 cases), anxiety (9 cases) and burn-out (3 cases). In G2, 4 participants were diagnosed with anxiety. The prescribed treatments were: antidepressants (5 cases), anxiolytic (10 cases), and psychotherapy (12 cases).Conclusion:Individuals experience varying levels of distress during pandemics. In our study, health care workers in the frontline of COVID-units experienced high levels of anxiety and depression. Thus, necessary measures should be attached to psychological support strategies for health care workers.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Combating the pandemic of COVID-19 in India: health care worker perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 2797
Author(s):  
Barsha Gadapani Pathak ◽  
Rukman M. Manapurath
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Health Care Worker ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Epidemic Model ◽  
Ventilatory Support ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Care Worker

As the pandemic of COVID-19 intensifies there is a huge burden on the health care system of each country. As predicted by epidemic model, India with 1.3 billion population and only 0.76 doctors per thousand people will have 1 million people affected by COVID-19 needing ventilatory support. This situation focusses on the substantial thrust on health care workers in India while dealing with the pandemic and protection of the health care workers from COVID-19 infection is significant as they are the key-groups in health system to procure win-battle status against COVID-19. Henceforth, after meticulously comparing various countries’ strategies to protect their HCWs this brief study is being prepared and few recommendations has been suggested which may enable the protection of HCWs in India. Un-interrupted supply of appropriate PPE, phenomenon of presenteeism among HCWs, burn-outs among HCWs, front-line department protocol for protection of HCWs, need of constant psycho-analysis among HCWs, stigma in society for HCWs, prophylaxis for HCWs against COVID-19 and HCWs’ family concerns are some of the issues which are being highlighted in this paper.

scholarly journals Factors Associated with the Mental Health of Health Care Workers Exposed to Pandemic-COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 568-578
Author(s):  
Kalyani Yede ◽  
Shiney Chib ◽  
Ragini Patil ◽  
Neha Bhatt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Work Pressure ◽  
Care Workers

Background: Pandemic, COVID is spreading like a wild fire and it has already become a global issue.  People all over the world are going through mental trauma due to the current situation of the globe. The most vulnerable situation is of the front line volunteers like doctors, health care workers, social workers who are coming in direct contact with the COVID patients and working in highly risky work environment. Since its inception in December 2019, Novel Corona Virus Disease started spreading rapidly both locally and internationally and looking to the adversity of the disease, World Health Organization (WHO) declared it has pandemic. The aim of this paper is to explore the determinants associated with the Mental Health of Health Care Workers (HCW) during the pandemic Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Questionnaire was developed having both demographic questions and questions related to mental health. Data was collected from 433 HCWs who were the front-line workers, involved directly in handling these patients. Questionnaire was classified into two parts; one included the demographic questions and the second part included questions related mental health and occupational stress.  These HCW were the front line works and were more vulnerable and were having the high risk of getting affected.  Percentage analysis was used to analyse the demographic data.  Exploratory factor analysis was used to explore the dimensions related to mental health and occupational strength.  Multi regression model was used to check the impact of emerged factors like increased workload, the continuous contact with COVID-19 patients and emotional aspects to mental health and occupational stress. Results: Value of R2 obtained was 0.778, which means, the derived factors namely Work pressure, optimism ,Risk factor, Emotional Exhaustion , Self control, Discomfort were able to explain 77.8 % of the dependent variable ‘Mental Health’. All the above factors influence Respondent’s Mental Health, as the significant the factors namely work pressure; risk factor and emotional exhaustion are directly proportional to Mental health.  Work pressure is the most influencing factor among it.  Optimism, self-control and discomfort are inversely proportional to Mental Health of HCW. Conclusion: Most important emerged from this study was ‘Work Pressure’.  Due to the fast spread of this deadly virus, a war like situation has emerged and Health Care Workers are the most vulnerable people as they are serving the patients directly.  They are sacrificing their own physical and mental health and are serving the mankind.  These people deserves lots of appreciation and salutations.

scholarly journals Mental Health Outcomes Amongst Health Care Workers During COVID 19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maha Al Ammari ◽  
Khizra Sultana ◽  
Abin Thomas ◽  
Lolowa Al Swaidan ◽  
Nouf Al Harthi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Frontline Worker

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the mental health outcomes and associated factors among health care workers during COVID 19 in Saudi Arabia.Design, Setting, and Participants: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of health care workers from tertiary care and ministry of health Centers across the Central, Eastern, and Western regions of Saudi Arabia. There were 1,130 participants in the survey, and we collected demographic and mental health measurements from the participants.Primary Outcomes and Measures: The magnitude of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia was measured using the original version of 9-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), the 7-item generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7), and 7-item insomnia severity index (ISI). We use the multiple logistic regression analysis to identify the associated risk factors of individual outcomes.Results: The scores on the PHQ-9 showed that the largest proportion of health care workers (76.93%) experienced only normal to mild depression (50.83 and 26.1%, respectively). The scores on the GAD-7 showed that the largest proportion of health care workers (78.88%) experienced minimal to mild anxiety (50.41 and 28.47%, respectively). The scores on the ISI showed that the largest proportion of health care workers (85.83%) experienced absence to subthreshold insomnia (57.08 and 28.75%, respectively). The risk factors for depression in health care workers were Saudi, living with family, working from an isolated room at home and frontline worker. For anxiety, being female was risk factor and for insomnia, being frontline worker was risk factor.Conclusion: It was observed that the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia were reported in a lower proportion of health care workers in our study. The participants who were female, frontline workers, Saudi, living with family, and working from home in isolated rooms were predisposed to developing psychological disorders.

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

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.

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

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. e0233831 ◽  
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

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

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
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.

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

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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