Assessment of Anxiety, Depression, Work-Related Stress, and Burnout in Health Care Workers (HCWs) Affected by COVID-19: Results of a Case–Control Study in Italy

Abstract

This study aims to investigate whether HCWs infected with COVID-19 may experience potential psychological consequences and a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, work-related stress, and burnout compared to non-infected HCWs. A case–control study with 774 participants was conducted comparing COVID-19-infected HCWs (cases) and non-infected HCWs (controls) from the Occupational Medicine Unit at the Teaching Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, who were administered the same questionnaire including Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and Karasek’s Job Content Questionnaire. No differences in the levels of burnout and decision latitude were found between the two groups. Cases showed higher level of anxiety and job demand compared to controls. In contrast, levels of depression in the case group were significantly lower compared to the control group. The results are indicating the need for workplace health promotion activities based on stress and burnout management and prevention. Multiple organizational and work-related interventions can lower the impact of mental health-related issues in the COVID-19 pandemics, including the improvement of workplace infrastructures, as well as the adoption of correct and shared anti-contagion measures, which must include regular personal protective equipment supply, and the adoption of training programs that deal with mental health-related issues.

Sense of Coherence in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ecuador: Association With Work Engagement, Work Environment and Psychological Distress Factors

“…What has not been possible to assess has been whether infected healthcare workers showed differences with non-infected workers, as studies have found differences in their mental health [ 44 ]. This has been due to the fact that, although participants were asked about it in the questionnaire, in the early phases of the pandemic diagnostic tests were carried out on a low percentage of professionals, which is consistent with the worsening of occupational health conditions perceived in the present study in that phase of the pandemic and whose effects had been maintained 6 months after the end of confinement [ 45 ].…”

Association between burnout and post‐traumatic stress disorder among frontline nurse during COVID‐19 pandemic: A moderated mediation analysis

“…All in all, previous studies indicated that depression is a crucial factor in the relationship between burnout and PTSD. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, healthcare professionals faced greater mental health issues, among them, nurses made a unique classification due to their extremely high job demands and significantly lesser power to make decisions (La et al., 2022). The nature of their works can lead to a significant loss of mental resources, which according to the COR theory (Hobfoll, 2001), they must continuously invest in resources to prevent the loss of resources.…”

A study on occupational stress, mental health and impact on work capacity of biosafety laboratory workers in China

“…From the perspective of organization level, based on the arrangement of occupational health examination for BSL employees according to the law, regular occupational health education and health promotion are carried out for them so that they can develop good lifestyle and eating habits. The department "old, middle and young" staff allocation, the establishment of exible working mechanism, increase the number of night shift duty pool, reduce the average number of night shifts of employees, the establishment of scienti c, reasonable, fair, just and effective performance assessment methods, so that BSL staff pay an effective return, enhance the happiness of biosafety laboratory employees, while for special laboratory staff to be tilted to buffer work pressure and increase personal exibility [45,46] .…”