Emotional impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare workers in one of the most important infection outbreaks in Europe

Abstract

Background and objectives The Covid-19 pandemic has put healthcare professionals around the world in an unprecedented challenge. This may cause some emotional difficulties and mental health problems. The aim of the present study was to analyze the emotional status among the health care workers form the Hospital of Igualada (Barcelona), while they were facing with Covid-19 in one of the most affected regions in all of Europe. Patients and methods A total of 395 participants were included in the study. A cross-sectional assessment was carried out between the months of March and April. Information about anxiety, depression, and stress was gathered. We also collected demographic data and concerning potentially stressful factors. Results A significant proportion of professionals reported symptoms of anxiety (31.4%) and depression (12.2%) from moderate to severe intensity. Symptoms of acute stress were reported by 14.5% of participants. We performed a regression analysis, which explained the 30% of the variance associated with the degree of emotional distress (R² = 0.30). The final model reveals that females (or young males), who are working in the frontline as nursing assistants, caretakers or radiology technicians, with the uncertainty of a possible infection, the perception of inadequate protection measures and having experienced the death of a close person by Covid-19, showed a heightened risk of experiencing psychological distress. Conclusions Coping with the Covid-19 pandemic caused a significant impact on emotional status of healthcare workers involved in this study.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Anxiety Perceived by Healthcare Professionals: Differences between Primary Care and Hospital Care

“…In our results, the variables "female" and "nurse" showed a greater level of anxiety, just as other in studies conducted in healthcare worker populations [2, 17,18,[22][23][24]. In this sense, we should be cautious when making conclusions in this respect, as 77% of the sample was composed of women; however, these results coincide with a previous prevalence study on anxiety and depression in the Spanish population, where women obtained greater percentages than men in all anxiety-related disorders (7.6% as compared to 2.6%) [25].…”

“…The degree of anxiety in the general sample in our study (56.5%) was similar to that found in Spanish healthcare workers during the COVID pandemic (58.6%) [17], although lower than that found in a study in Barcelona, where 71.6% showed anxiety symptoms [18], and higher than another study conducted in the autonomous communities of the Basque Country and Navarra, where 37% showed anxiety symptoms [2]. In both cases, the differences could be related, as the data collection was conducted during the first months of the pandemic (March/April and April, respectively), while in our case, it was conducted at the end of the State of Alarm in June.…”

Factors Associated With Psychological Distress in Health-Care Workers During an Infectious Disease Outbreak: A Rapid Systematic Review of the Evidence

“…In a study during the H1N1 outbreak, hospital staff who were in their 20's had greater anxiety about becoming infected than did older staff ( 103 ). During COVID-19, HCW who were younger were more likely to experience higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, anxiety, and acute stress compared to older HCW ( 23 , 26 – 28 , 30 , 32 , 42 , 49 , 54 , 55 , 57 , 61 , 65 , 71 , 75 , 78 , 89 , 90 , 117 , 118 , 121 , 123 , 127 , 131 , 149 , 153 , 154 ). In contrast, eight studies conducted during COVID found that HCW who were older were at greater risk of experiencing higher levels of psychological distress ( 40 , 66 , 86 , 95 , 102 , 114 , 122 , 132 ).…”

“…For example, two studies of HCW during the SARS outbreak found that HCW who were single were 1.4 times more likely to experience psychological distress than married HCW (41), and more likely to have sever depressive symptoms 3 years later (92). Similarly, HCW during the COVID-19 outbreak who were single experienced higher levels of distress than those who were married (54,57,66,69,111,122,126). Conversely, four studies conducted during COVID-19 found that being married was a risk factor for greater distress (66,75,89,94), and two studies found that married HCW with children reported greater stress than single HCW or those who were married without children (72,83).…”

Endocrinology in the Time of COVID-19: A Rapid Evolution of Knowledge and Care

“…Working days have been lost with obvious effects on patient care. Some have been affected by COVID infection nonetheless [ 35 , 36 ] and have experienced the potentially devastating effects of the virus on themselves and their families first hand [ 37 ]. This has also had effects on healthcare systems, which have had to cope with less than 100% of the workforce available at any one time.…”