The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Health Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a massive impact on health care systems, increasing the risks of psychological distress in health professionals. This study aims at assessing the prevalence of burnout and psychopathological conditions in health professionals working in a health institution in the Northern Italy, and to identify socio-demographic, work-related and psychological predictors of burnout. Methods: Health professionals working in the hospitals of the Istituto Auxologico Italiano were asked to participate to an online anonymous survey investigating socio-demographic data, COVID-19 emergency-related work and psychological factors, state anxiety, psychological distress, post-traumatic symptoms and burnout. Predictors of the three components of burnout were assessed using elastic net regression models. Results: Three hundred and thirty health professionals participated to the online survey. Two hundred and thirty-five health professionals (71.2%) had scores of state anxiety above the clinical cutoff, 88 (26.8%) had clinical levels of depression, 103 (31.3%) of anxiety, 113 (34.3%) of stress, 121 (36.7%) of post-traumatic stress. Regarding burnout, 107 (35.7%) had moderate and 105 (31.9%) severe levels of emotional exhaustion; 46 (14.0%) had moderate and 40 (12.1%) severe levels of depersonalization; 132 (40.1%) had moderate and 113 (34.3%) severe levels of reduced personal accomplishment. Predictors of all the three components of burnout were work hours, psychological comorbidities, fear of infection and perceived support by friends. Predictors of both emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were female gender, being a nurse, working in the hospital, being in contact with COVID-19 patients. Reduced personal accomplishment was also predicted by age. Conclusions: Health professionals had high levels of burnout and psychological symptoms during the COVID-19 emergency. Monitoring and timely treatment of these conditions is needed.

Prevalence and Predictors of Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia among Healthcare Workers in Dhaka City amid COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Previous studies conducted among HCW in Europe and other parts of the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that the female and single HCW had more frequently reported anxiety and depression symptoms [8,18], which was similar to our study ndings. A review also has shown that the prevalence of anxiety and depression among Asian female and single HCW during the COVID-19 pandemic was higher than their counterparts [19].…”

“…The total score ranges from 0 to 27. The total score suggests different levels of depressive symptoms: minimal/no depression (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21), and very severe (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). However, in this study, cut-off point ≥ 10 was used to classify participants as having depressive symptoms [14,15].…”

<p>Mental Health and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes Among Frontline Health Workers During the Peak of COVID-19 Outbreak in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

“…In overall, the data showed a slightly lower rate of perceived depression and distress symptoms among HCWs in Vietnam when compared to several reports in China, Italy, or the US. 8,[33][34][35] The difference reflected the fact that Vietnam had a low number of COVID-19 active cases and the majority were in mild condition in the first wave from January to March 2020. In a setting of limited health resources such as Vietnam, flattening the curve of active cases through high-level and aggressive prevention measures could be the most appropriative approach to reduce the burden for the healthcare system, as well as minimize the work pressure and the overwhelmed situation among HCWs.…”

From Resilience to Burnout: Psychological Features of Italian General Practitioners During COVID-19 Emergency

“…This study showed that GPs have a high risk of developing burnout syndrome. Recent studies examined the prevalence of burnout during the COVID-19 emergency in health professionals working in Northern Italy ( Giusti et al, 2020 ), showing high levels of burnout especially in Emotional Exhaustion and reduced Personal Accomplishment. These burnout findings were significantly higher than those detected in other Italian samples before the COVID-19 outbreak, especially for Emotional Exhaustion ( Barello et al, 2020 ).…”