AIMS: Involvement of medical students in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response remains a matter of debate. The main argument against involvement relates to potential physical and psychological health risks. Hence, we aimed to compare the physical and psychological health of Swiss medical students involved in the COVID-19 response with their non-involved peers. Among those involved, we also compared frontline (working in a dedicated COVID-19 unit) and non-frontline students. In addition, we compared frontline medical students with frontline residents. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional anonymous online study in Switzerland between 9 and 14 May 2020. Recruitment was through hospital, faculty and student societies mailing lists using a snowball technique. Exposure to COVID-19 patients, personal protective equipment (PPE) access, support and information by employer, as well as COVID-19 symptoms and diagnosis were collected with a self-reported questionnaire. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Burnout was assessed using two single items derived from the Maslach Burnout Inventory. RESULTS: 550 medical students (66.7% women, median age 23 years) and 227 residents (70.5% women, median age 30 years) were included in the analyses. Approximately half of the medical students were involved in the COVID-19 response and 30% were frontline workers. Of the residents, 61.7% were frontline workers. Both medical students and residents reported high access to PPE, support and information by employer. Students involved in the COVID-19 response reported a similar proportion of COVID-19 symptoms or confirmed diagnoses (p = 0.81), but lower levels of anxiety (p <0.001), depression (p <0.001) and burnout (p <0.001 for depersonalisation item), compared with their non-involved peers. Health outcomes of frontline students did not differ significantly compared with their non-frontline peers. Frontline students had lower levels of burnout than frontline residents (p <0.01 for emotional exhaustion item); the remaining health outcomes did not significantly differ.CONCLUSIONS: In a snowball sample of Swiss medical students involved in the response to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed similar physical and psychological health outcomes compared with their noninvolved peers. The context in which medical students are involved is certainly critical. Access to PPE, perceived support by employers and perceived passage of information by employers could explain these findings. Further research is needed to better understand the role of these contextual factors on student physical and psychological health.
Background
Virus outbreaks such as the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic are challenging for health care workers (HCWs), affecting their workload and their mental health. Since both, workload and HCW's well-being are related to the quality of care, continuous monitoring of working hours and indicators of mental health in HCWs is of relevance during the current pandemic. The existing investigations, however, have been limited to a single study period. We examined changes in working hours and mental health in Swiss HCWs at the height of the pandemic (T1) and again after its flattening (T2).
Methods
We conducted two cross-sectional online studies among Swiss HCWs assessing working hours, depression, anxiety, and burnout. From each study, 812 demographics-matched participants were included into the analysis. Working hours and mental health were compared between the two samples.
Results
Compared to prior to the pandemic, the share of participants working less hours was the same in both samples, whereas the share of those working more hours was lower in the T2 sample. The level of depression did not differ between the samples. In the T2 sample, participants reported more anxiety, however, this difference was below the minimal clinically important difference. Levels of burnout were slightly higher in the T2 sample.
Conclusions
Two weeks after the health care system started to transition back to normal operations, HCWs' working hours still differed from their regular hours in non-pandemic times. Overall anxiety and depression among HCWs did not change substantially over the course of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
We report a case of acquired lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection due to an accidental percutaneous inoculation of LCMV at work. The injured worker developed a flu-like syndrome, followed by pericarditis and meningoencephalitis. Seroconversion was confirmed by ELISA. The patient made a complete recovery. We review measures undertaken to prevent a similar event and propose a follow-up protocol in the event of accidental LCMV exposure.
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