Psychological Assistance to Health Care Workers in the Conditions of Re-Profiling the Federal Hospital to Treat Patients with COVID-19

In addition to physical mortality, the COVID-19 pandemic has a broad psychosocial and emotional impact on all population groups. Medical workers in the hospitals are experiencing unprecedented physical and psychological difficulties. Guided by the principles of providing professional psychological assistance to health care workers and based on the analysis of international experience, the “FCBN” of the FMBA of Russia organized several forms of psychological support. The purpose of this study was to investigate the methods and results of psychological support to health care workers during the period of re-profiling hospital for patients with COVID-19. The study sample includes 578 employees of the “FCBN” of the FMBA of Russia, covered during a weekly call; 25 of them participated in "social questionnaire"; 33 people completed the MBI and GAD-7 questionnaires; more than 30 people received personal or distant consultations. The results of questionnaires show that employees reacted to the new conditions adequately. The average values of indicators on the scales "emotional exhaustion" and "depersonalization" for the group fell within the normal range for medical workers in Russia. Investigation of effectiveness of different psychological methods shows that for supporting health care workers in the new condition, the most effective were personal consultations, and to identify the actual problems of work organization and building vertical communication between staff and management – weekly calls and ≪social questionnaire≫. In conclusion, our experience has shown the importance of maintaining the functioning of psychological service to help health care workers in an emergency situation for the health system.

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Emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. health care workers: A gathering storm.

Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy ◽

10.1037/tra0000851 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (S1) ◽

pp. S153-S155

Author(s):

Mark A. Ruiz ◽

Carri-Ann M. Gibson

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Emotional Impact ◽

Care Workers

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Psychological support for health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Canadian Medical Association Journal ◽

10.1503/cmaj.75864 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 192 (24) ◽

pp. E660-E660 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Molyn Leszcz ◽

Robert Maunder ◽

Jon Hunter

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Care Workers

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

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.789 ◽

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

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Work organization and musculoskeletal injuries among a cohort of health care workers

Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health ◽

10.5271/sjweh.1012 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 285-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Mieke Koehoorn ◽

Paul A Demers ◽

Clyde Hertzman ◽

Judy Village ◽

Susan M Kennedy

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Work Organization ◽

Musculoskeletal Injuries ◽

Care Workers

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Recovery of a 91-year-old COVID-19 patient with medical and psychological support

Current Chinese Science ◽

10.2174/2666001601999201210211231 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 01 ◽

Author(s):

Dong Zhang ◽

Chunrong Liu ◽

Li Li

Keyword(s):

Health Care Workers ◽

The Elderly ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Mutual Understanding ◽

Elderly Men ◽

Old Patients ◽

Medical Interventions ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Care Workers ◽

Psychological Assistance

Background:: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is designated a global pandemic. Elderly men with underlying medical conditions are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and usually develop severe/critical illness,so we should pay more attention to the elderly. Objective:: Describes methods may help old patients with COVID-19 recover. Methods:: Report a case of a 91-year-old male COVID-19 patient in Haihe Hospital , Tianjin, China, survived after receiving supportive medical treatment and psychological assistance. Results:: In addition to medical interventions, psychological support may be needed to better treat COVID-19 patients including elderly ones. Conclusion:: Special care should be considered for elderly COVID-19 patients. Mutual understanding and support between patients and health-care workers are essential during this pandemic.

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Intervention to Prevent Mental Ill-Health Among Health Care Workers

Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies ◽

10.19154/njwls.v4i2.3867 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 117

Author(s):

Hans Michélsen ◽

Ulla Sebrant ◽

Abbe Schulman

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Mental Strain ◽

Clinic Management ◽

Care Workers ◽

Continuous Feedback ◽

One Year ◽

Qualitative Methodologies

Psychological strain in working life is gaining ever more attention. Health care workers are often under extreme emotional stress, which can become so overwhelming that they show signs of mental ill-health. This project aimed to develop a model for sustainable psychological support within a hospital clinic to prevent mental ill-health among employees. Mental strains at work and mental ill-health among clinic employees were mapped out, after which interventions for psychological support were designed in collaboration with employees. The interventions were conducted over one year and evaluated. Throughout the process the clinic received continuous feedback. Both questionnaires and interviews were used. The results of identifying mental strains and conducting interventions showed that employees experienced mental strain at work and perceived a need for support. Intervention evaluations showed that the project provided support, new insights, and an increased acceptance for long-term prevention of mental strain. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies supported the results. The conclusion was that increased legitimacy for mental strain at work and continuous feedback between clinic management and employees, as well as organizational circumstances are important factors when developing long-term intervention programs with various forms of psychological support.

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Fragile heroes. The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-care workers in Italy

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0242538 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. e0242538

Author(s):

Chiara Conti ◽

Lilybeth Fontanesi ◽

Roberta Lanzara ◽

Ilenia Rosa ◽

Piero Porcelli

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Psychological Care ◽

Care Needs ◽

Care Workers ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Traumatic Symptoms

This survey-based study aimed to explore the mental health status and psychological care needs of 933 health-care workers in Italy during the COVID-19 outbreak. Sociodemographic data, exposure to COVID-19, perception of psychological care needs, depression, anxiety, somatization, and post-traumatic symptoms were concurrently assessed. The majority of the sample (71%) suffered from somatization and 55% of distress. Female care workers experienced higher levels of anxiety (d = 0.50) and somatization symptoms (d = 0.82) and stated they needed psychological care more than men (p < .001). Younger participants (aged <40 years-old) reported higher levels of somatization, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic symptoms (effects size range from d = 0.22 to d = 0.31). Working in a high infected area (red-zones) and directly with COVID-19 patients (front-line) affected the psychological health of participants to a smaller degree. Health-care workers who lost one of their patients reported higher levels of depression (d = 0.22), anxiety (d = 0.19), post-traumatic symptoms (d = 0.30), and psychological care needs than those who did not have the same experience (p < .01). Health-care workers who perceived the need for psychological support scored above the clinical alarming level (cut-off scores) in all the psychological scales, ranging from 76% to 88%. Psychological distress (p < .01), anxiety (p < .05), depression (p < .05), and being women (p < .01) contribute to explain the need for psychological care and accounted for 32% of the variance in this sample. These findings point out the importance to consider the psychological impact of COVID-19 on Italian health-care workers and strongly suggest establishing psychological support services for providing adequate professional care.

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