Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/1942/35781
Title: | COVID-19 is having a destructive impact on health-care workers' mental well-being | Authors: | Vanhaecht, K Seys, D Bruyneel, L COX, Bianca Kaesemans, G Cloet, M Van den Broeck, K Cools, O De Witte, A Lowet, K HELLINGS, Johan Bilsen, J Lemmens, G Claes, S |
Issue Date: | 2021 | Publisher: | OXFORD UNIV PRESS | Source: | International journal for quality in health care, 33 (1) (Art N° mzaa158) | 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. | Keywords: | professions;workforce and workload;COVID-19;mental health;corona;pandemic | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/35781 | ISSN: | 1353-4505 | e-ISSN: | 1464-3677 | DOI: | 10.1093/intqhc/mzaa158 | ISI #: | 000648943600047 | Rights: | The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Society for Quality in Health Care. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution | Validations: | ecoom 2022 |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
mzaa158.pdf | Published version | 591.94 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
WEB OF SCIENCETM
Citations
133
checked on Oct 14, 2024
Page view(s)
26
checked on Sep 7, 2022
Download(s)
12
checked on Sep 7, 2022
Google ScholarTM
Check
Altmetric
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.