Intensive care unit professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain: social and work-related variables, COVID-19 symptoms, worries, and generalized anxiety levels

Abstract

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 outbreak has been identified as a pandemic and global health emergency. It presents as a severe acute respiratory disease. The rapid dissemination of the disease created challenges for healthcare systems and forced healthcare workers (HCWs) to deal with many clinical and nonclinical stresses. The aim of our research is to describe work conditions, symptoms experienced by HCWs, worries about contagion, and generalized anxiety symptoms and compare those findings across regions in Spain. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey. Critical care units throughout Spain were included. The sample comprised HCWs working in intensive care units from March to May 2020. We assessed work variables, physical symptoms, worries about contagion, and anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder-7 questionnaire). Results: The final sample comprised 448 surveys. Among the respondents, 86.9% (n=389) were nursing professionals, and 84.8% (n=380) were women. All participants cared for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients during the study period. Workload during the pandemic in Madrid was judged to be higher than in other regions (P<0.01). The availability of personal protective equipment was found to be higher in Cataluña. The most frequently experienced symptom was headaches (78.1%). Worries about self-infection and the possibility of infecting others received mean scores of 3.11 and 3.75, respectively. Mean scores for generalized anxiety levels were 11.02, with 58.7% of the professionals presenting with generalized anxiety syndrome during the assessment. Conclusions: In this study, we found high levels of anxiety among HCWs caring directly for COVID-19 patients, which could produce long-term psychological alterations that still need to be assessed.

Cognitive appraisals and coping strategies of registered nurses in the emergency department combating COVID‐19: A scoping review

“…Consistent with previous studies, we showed that a safe predictive factors of anxiety, stress, and stress-coping tendencies (Cui et al, 2021;Garcia-Hedrera et al, 2021). The uncertainty about the pandemic increased EDRNs' job stress, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization symptoms, and decreased their sense of personal accomplishment (Ahorsu et al, 2022).…”

“…Sufficient PPE and clear guidelines are vital factors in maintaining a safe workplace for combating the pandemic (Chen et al, 2020; Jose et al, 2020; Liu, Luo, et al, 2020). The worry and fear of contracting the virus and passing it on to family members were the most influential and predictive factors of anxiety, stress, and stress‐coping tendencies (Cui et al, 2021; Garcia‐Hedrera et al, 2021). The uncertainty about the pandemic increased EDRNs' job stress, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization symptoms, and decreased their sense of personal accomplishment (Ahorsu et al, 2022).…”

The impact of pandemics on healthcare providers' workloads: A scoping review

“…These increases were related to healthcare workers undertaking activities that they do not usually do (Bellanti et al, 2021; Fernández‐Castillo et al, 2021; Gomez et al, 2020; Koh et al, 2005; Zhang, Xiang, & Alejok, 2021) or increasing work content (Jiang et al, 2022; Shoja et al, 2020), including changes to documentation (Fournier et al, 2022; Gomez et al, 2020), demand (Gomez et al, 2020; Tang et al, 2021; Villar et al, 2021; Wanninayake et al, 2022; Zamanzadeh et al, 2021; Zhan et al, 2020), skills required (Jiang et al, 2022; Liang et al, 2021; Tang et al, 2021; Wanninayake et al, 2022) and patient characteristics (Bruyneel, Gallani, et al, 2021; Felice et al, 2020), including isolation (Fernández‐Castillo et al, 2021). An increase in working overtime hours or more hours per day/week (Bellanti et al, 2021; Daneshvar et al, 2022; Duru, 2021; Evcili & Demirel, 2022; Fournier et al, 2022; Gao et al, 2020; Koh et al, 2005; Malinowska‐Lipień et al, 2021; Matsuo et al, 2021; Niu et al, 2022; Ozkan & Unlu, 2021; Ren et al, 2022; Said & El‐Shafei, 2021; Sethi et al, 2020; Zhan et al, 2020; Zhang, Xiang, & Alejok, 2021), an increase in healthcare provider‐patient ratios (Bergman et al, 2021; Bruyneel, Smith, et al, 2021; Cheong et al, 2022; Evcili & Demirel, 2022; García‐Hedrera et al, 2021; González‐Gil et al, 2021; Hoogendoorn et al, 2021; Ren et al, 2022; Scott et al, 2022), staffing shortages (Brophy et al, 2021; Evcili & Demirel, 2022; Fournier et al, 2022; González‐Gil et al,…”

“…In addition, Bruyneel, Gallani, et al (2021) and Hoogendoorn et al (2021) identified that nursing activity scores were higher among the COVID‐19 patients as they required more time, which increased nursing workloads. However, some of the participants in these studies also reported a reduction in their workloads (Akova et al, 2022; Arslan et al, 2021; Butera et al, 2021; Felice et al, 2020; García‐Hedrera et al, 2021; Li et al, 2021; Matsuo et al, 2021; Nahidi et al, 2022; Scott et al, 2022). For example, Butera et al (2021) identified that 2.3% of nurses in the ICU and 37% in the emergency department reported a decrease in workload.…”

From Anxiety to Hardiness: The Role of Self-Efficacy in Spanish CCU Nurses in the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Previous research has pointed out the psychoemotional consequences experienced by nurses in Critical Care Units (CCU) as a consequence of the COVID-19 [1][2][3] pandemic. These consequences have been associated with several risk factors such as fear of contagion, caring for infectious patients, working in specialized units such as the CCU [4,5], or the fact of being a mother and a nurse in the CCU [6]. A recent meta-analysis in nurses reported prevalent rates of stress, anxiety and depression of 43%, 37% and 35%, respectively [7].…”