Return to Work of Healthcare Workers after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Determinants of Physical and Mental Health

Grazzini, Maddalena; Lulli, Lucrezia Ginevra; Mucci, Nicola; Paolini, Diana; Baldassarre, Antonio; Gallinoro, Veronica; Chiarelli, Annarita; Niccolini, Fabrizio; Arcangeli, Giulio

doi:10.3390/ijerph19116811

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…It is widely known that COVID-19 infection can result in several different ailments, denoted as post-COVID-19 symptoms or post-COVID-19 syndrome [8,36], which may last from several weeks to years [15]. These conditions challenge healthcare professionals' return to work [37] and can transform an infection that usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks into a long, complex illness. Post-COVID-19 symptoms can affect patients with all levels of disease severity as well as young, healthy people [38,39].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Population of Italian Healthcare Workers

Lulli

Baldassarre

Chiarelli

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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SARS-CoV-2 infection often causes symptoms and illness that can last for months after the acute phase, i.e., so-called “Long COVID” or Post-acute COVID-19. Due to the high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among Healthcare Workers (HCWs), post-COVID-19 symptoms can be common and threaten workers’ occupational health and healthcare systems’ functioning. The aim of this cross-sectional, observational study was to present data related to post-COVID-19 outcomes in a population of HCWs infected by COVID-19 from October 2020 to April 2021, and to identify possible factors associated with the persistence of illness, such as gender, age, previous medical conditions, and features of acute illness. A total of 318 HCWs who had become infected by COVID-19 were examined and interviewed approximately two months after their recovery from the infection. The clinical examinations were performed by Occupational Physicians in accordance with a specific protocol at the Occupational Medicine Unit of a tertiary hospital in Italy. The mean age of the participants was 45 years old, and 66.7% of the workers were women while 33.3% were men; the sample mainly consisted of nurses (44.7%). During the medical examination, more than half of the workers mentioned that they had experienced multiple residual bouts of illness after the acute phase of infection. Men and women were similarly affected. The most reported symptom was fatigue (32.1%), followed by musculoskeletal pain (13.6%) and dyspnea (13.2%). In the multivariate analysis, dyspnea (p < 0.001) and fatigue (p < 0.001) during the acute stage of illness and the presence of any limitation in working activities, in the context of fitness for a work evaluation performed while the occupational medicine surveillance program was being conducted (p = 0.025), were independently associated with any post-COVID-19 symptoms, which were considered final outcomes. The main post-COVID-19 symptoms—dyspnea, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain—showed significant associations with dyspnea, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain experienced during the acute stage of infection, with the presence of limitations in working activities, and pre-existing pneumological diseases. A normal weight according to body mass index was a protective factor. The identification of vulnerable workers as those with limitations in working activities, pneumological diseases, a high BMI, and of an older age and the implementation of preventive measures are key factors for preserving Occupational Health. Fitness-to-work evaluations performed by Occupational Physicians can be considered a complex index of overall health and functionality that can identify workers who may suffer from relevant post-COVID-19 symptoms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Population of Italian Healthcare Workers

Lulli

Baldassarre

Chiarelli

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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“…The individual and societal impact of this condition has not been fully understood yet. Various studies have shown how this syndrome leads to significant limitations in functional abilities and to a general reduction in quality of life; this is the case, especially, though not exclusively, in patients who have experienced a severe disease or have undergone a hospital stay [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. A longitudinal cohort study recently performed in China showed that the population surviving COVID-19 after a hospital stay, even after two years from the acute illness, had more lasting symptoms and more residual pain or discomfort, as well as anxiety or depression, compared to controls [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-Acute COVID-19 Sequelae in a Working Population at One Year Follow-Up: A Wide Range of Impacts from an Italian Sample

Buonsenso

Gualano

Rossi

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Long COVID-19 is a term used to describe the symptomatic sequelae that develop after suffering from COVID-19. Very few studies have investigated the impact of COVID-19 sequelae on employment status. The aim of this research was to characterise sequelae of COVID-19 in a population of workers who tested positive for COVID-19, with a follow-up within one year of the acute illness, and to analyse the possible association between this and changes in the workers’ occupational status. In this retrospective cohort study, a questionnaire was administered to 155 workers; descriptive, univariate (chi-square tests), and multivariate (logistic regression model) analyses were carried out. The mean age was 46.48 years (SD ± 7.302); 76 participants were males (49.7%), and 33 participants reported being current smokers (21.3%). Overall, 19.0% of patients reported not feeling fully recovered at follow-up, and 13.7% reported a change in their job status after COVID-19. A change in occupational status was associated with being a smoker (OR 4.106, CI [1.406–11.990], p = 0.010); hospital stay was associated with age > 46 years in a statistically significant way (p = 0.025) and with not feeling fully recovered at follow-up (p = 0.003). A persistent worsening in anxiety was more common in women (p = 0.028). This study identifies smoking as a risk factor for workers not able to resume their job; furthermore, occupational physicians should monitor mental health more closely after COVID-19, particularly in female workers.

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“…During the COVID-19 outbreak, the quality of sleep of nursing staff was significantly lower than that of other healthcare workers (Zare et al, 2022). When healthcare workers returned to work 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, one-third of them reported worsening sleep patterns (Grazzini et al, 2022). It is not just common risk factors such as female sex, advanced age, persistent fatigue, and circadian rhythm changes that can cause insomnia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between perceived organizational support and insomnia in Chinese nurses: The Serial multiple mediation analysis

Wang

Liu

et al. 2022

Front. Psychol.

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BackgroundNurses are in high-pressure, high-load, and high-risk environment for a long time, and their insomnia cannot be ignored. Insomnia not only has a negative impact on the physical and mental health of nurses, but also on the efficiency and quality of nursing work.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the multiple mediating effect of psychological capital, effort-reward ratio, and overcommitment in the relationship between perceived organizational support and insomnia among Chinese nurses.MethodsA cross-sectional study has been carried out in a tertiary grade A hospital in Shandong Province, China from March 2021 to May 2021. The demographic questionnaire, Perceived Organization Support Questionnaire, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, Chinese version Effort-Reward Imbalance, Questionnaire and Athens Insomnia Scale were used for data collection. SPSS PROCESS 3.4 macro program developed by Hayes was used to test the serial multiple mediation. Descriptive analysis, independent-samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analyses, ordinary least-squares regression, and the bootstrap method were used for data analysis.Results658 valid questionnaires were collected (81.2%). Nurses’ perceived organizational support was positively correlated with psychological capital (r = 0.455, p < 0.001), and was significantly negatively correlated with effort-reward ratio (r = −0.318, p < 0.001), overcommitment (r = −0.328, p < 0.001), and insomnia (r = −0.358, p < 0.001); Psychological capital was negatively correlated with effort-reward ratio (r = −0.275, p < 0.001), overcommitment (r = −0.339, p < 0.001), and insomnia (r = −0.402, p < 0.001), respectively; effort-reward ratio and overcommitment were significantly positively correlated with insomnia (r = 0.379, p < 0.001; r = 0.466, p < 0.001), respectively. In the model of perceived organizational support—psychological capital—effort-reward ratio—insomnia, the overall mediating effect was −0.080 (95%CI: −0.109 ~ −0.058), and the mediating effect of psychological capital was −0.050, accounting for 34.30% of the total effect; the mediating effect of effort-reward ratio was −0.024, accounting for 16.49% of the total effect; the chain mediating effect of psychological capital and effort-reward ratio was −0.007, accounting for 4.49% of the total effect. In the model of perceived organizational support—psychological capital—overcommitment—insomnia, the overall mediating effect was −0.085 (95%CI: −0.109 ~ −0.064), and the mediating effect of psychological capital was −0.042, accounting for 28.64% of the total effect; the mediating effect of overcommitment was −0.029, accounting for 19.81% of the total effect; the chain mediating effect of psychological capital and overcommitment was −0.015, accounting for 10.14% of the total effect.ConclusionPerceived organizational support had direct negative influence on insomnia. Psychological capital and effort-reward ratio/overcommitment acted as chained mediating factor could partially relieve insomnia symptoms related to perceived organizational support. It is suggested to improve the level of organizational support and psychological capital of nurses, and reduce the effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment of nurses, so as to effectively decline and deal with nurses’ insomnia.

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Return to Work of Healthcare Workers after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Determinants of Physical and Mental Health

Cited by 17 publications

References 45 publications

Physical Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Population of Italian Healthcare Workers

Physical Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Population of Italian Healthcare Workers

Post-Acute COVID-19 Sequelae in a Working Population at One Year Follow-Up: A Wide Range of Impacts from an Italian Sample

The relationship between perceived organizational support and insomnia in Chinese nurses: The Serial multiple mediation analysis

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