Multidimensional assessment of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers in governmental hospitals 2021

ABSTRACT

Background

Since the emergence of the pandemic, healthcare workers have been subjected to devastating psychological burden at all levels of healthcare. Depression, anxiety, and stress were greatly encountered in the era of the pandemic. Moreover, healthcare workers reported escalating levels of burnout syndrome compared to levels reported in the pre-pandemic era. They are exposed to multiple work-related stressors that have been exhausting to their mental and psychological well-being. The aim of the current study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of healthcare workers.

Methods

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 471 healthcare workers (245 front-line and 226 second-line healthcare workers) recruited from ten governmental hospitals. Data was collected using self-administered structured questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI).

Results

Symptoms suggestive of depression, anxiety, and stress were reported by 72.6%, 31.4%, and 18.6% of studied healthcare workers, respectively. Front-line healthcare workers had significantly higher mean anxiety and stress scores compared to second-line ones.

Burnout syndrome was reported by 86.4% of the study subjects, with statistically significant differences between front-line and second-line healthcare workers. The most commonly adopted organizational interventions against work-related stressors were increased workforce (41.6%), frequent staff meetings (32.3%), shifts rescheduling (31.4%), frequent breaks during the working day (29.1%), and staff training (16.8%). As for individually adopted interventions, following strict protective measures (63.5%), gaining more knowledge about COVID-19 (54.1%), avoiding media news (44.8%), and relaxation activities such as prayers, music, and meditation (37.2%) were the most commonly adopted interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19; depression
• anxiety
• stress
• burnout
• health care workers

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nadia Abd EL-Monem El-Zeiny

Prof. Nadia Abd El-Monem El-Zeiny, Department of Community Medicine.

Eman Ahmed Fawzy Darwesh

Prof. Eman Ahmed Fawzy Darwesh, Department of Community Medicine.

Heba Mahmoud Taha Elweshahi

Prof. Heba Mahmoud Taha Elweshahi, Department of Community Medicine.

Andrew Malak Tawfik Michael

Dr. Andrew Malak Tawfik Michael, assistant lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, faculty of medicine, Alexandria university.