Investigating the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Previous meta-analyses were conducted during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, which utilized a smaller pool of data. The current meta-analysis aims to provide additional (and updated) evidence related to the psychological impact among healthcare workers. The search strategy was developed by a medical librarian and bibliographical databases, including Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched for studies examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of healthcare workers. Articles were screened by three reviewers. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed by I2 statistic. The random-effects model was utilized to obtain the pooled prevalence. A subgroup analysis by region, gender, quality of study, assessment methods, healthcare profession, and exposure was performed. Publication bias was assessed by Funnel plot and Egger linear regression test. Sixty-five studies met the inclusion criteria and the total sample constituted 79,437 participants. The pooled prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress syndrome, insomnia, psychological distress, and burnout was 34.4%, 31.8%, 40.3%, 11.4%, 27.8%, 46.1%, and 37.4% respectively. The subgroup analysis indicated higher anxiety and depression prevalence among females, nurses, and frontline responders than males, doctors, and second-line healthcare workers. This study highlights the need for designing a targeted intervention to improve resilience and foster post-traumatic growth among frontline responders.

Psychological Stress Risk Factors, Concerns and Mental Health Support Among Health Care Workers in Vietnam During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak

“…Another reason was that our sample population focused on HCWs from all sectors, while Lai et al employed a hospitalbased survey, which may involve higher risks for exposure to COVID-19 and thus could lead to increased fear of spreading the virus and being isolated (19). The prevalence was also much lower compared to that in USA of 60.2% (31). Although USA is a highincome country with advanced health care system, HCWs in this country still suffered from stress because of the overwhelming COVID-19 cases and deaths.…”

Anxiety, depression, stress, fear and social support during COVID-19 pandemic among Jordanian healthcare workers

“…The respective scores for depression, anxiety, and stress were calculated by totaling the scores for the respective associated items, and the severity rating index was used to determine the respondent's status in each regard. The severity rating index for each DASS subscale as follow (depression was comprising normal (0-9), mild (10-13), moderate (14-20), severe (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), and extremely severe (28+). Anxiety scoring comprising normal (0-7), mild (8-9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), extremely severe 20+.…”

“…Anxiety scoring comprising normal (0-7), mild (8-9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), extremely severe 20+. Stress scoring comprising normal (0-14), mild (15)(16)(17)(18), moderate (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25), sever (26-33), extremely severe (34+). In the original study, the Cronbach's alpha values for depression, anxiety, and stress were 0.91, 0.84, and 90, respectively [30].…”

“…As a result, health-care workers are affected by psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and stress [ 21 ]. Batra et al [ 22 ] conducted a meta-analysis to provide new evidence related to COVID-19 impact on health-care workers’ psychological well-being. Among the main factors identified as causal in psychological distress are anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress syndrome, insomnia, psychological distress, and burnout.…”

Sources of Health Anxiety for Hospital Staff Working during the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…Data from rapid reviews and meta-analyses have shown that hospital staff members in contact with infected patients (“frontline hospital staff members”) appear to be at increased risk of reporting symptoms of exhaustion, depression, anxiety [ 5 ], short- and long-term mental health problems [ 6 ], acute and post-traumatic stress [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], and psychological distress [ 5 , 10 ]. Batra et al [ 11 ], in their meta-analysis, summarized results from 65 studies, including 79,437 hospital staff members, and they reported the following prevalence rates: anxiety: 34.4%; depression: 31.8%; stress: 40.3%; post-traumatic stress syndrome: 11.4%; insomnia: 27.8%; psychological distress: 46.1%, and burnout: 37.4%. The following specific risk factors were identified: lower age, being more junior, being the parents of young children, having an infected family member, lack of practical support, stigma [ 5 , 7 ], heavy workload, lack of training, lack of social support, and limited work experience [ 7 ].…”