The Psychological Well-Being of Southeast Asian Frontline Healthcare Workers during COVID-19: A Multi-Country Study

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and job burnout among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) across six Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. We also investigated the associated risk and protective factors. Methods: Frontline HCWs (N = 1381) from the participating countries participated between 4 January and 14 June 2021. The participants completed self-reported surveys on anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-8), and job burnout (PWLS). Multivariate logistic regressions were performed with anxiety, depression, and job burnout as outcomes and sociodemographic and job characteristics and HCW perceptions as predictors. Results: The average proportion of HCWs reporting moderate anxiety, moderately severe depression, and job burnout across all countries were 10%, 4%, and 20%, respectively. Working longer hours than usual (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.82; 3.51), perceived high job risk (1.98; 2.22), and inadequate personal protective equipment (1.89; 2.11) were associated with increased odds of anxiety and job burnout while working night shifts was associated with increased risk of depression (3.23). Perceived good teamwork was associated with lower odds of anxiety (0.46), depression (0.43), and job burnout (0.39). Conclusion: Job burnout remains a foremost issue among HCWs. Potential opportunities to improve HCW wellness are discussed.

Exploring the Associated Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Healthcare Shift Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Studies by Teo et al, (2022) and Subhas et al, (2021) focused on healthcare shift workers’ psychological well-being and its associated factors [ 13 , 14 ]. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies in Malaysia to date that include sleep quality, physical activity and eating habits as part of the factors to be associated with the psychological well-being of healthcare shift workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Behavioral design interventions for the promotion of wellbeing among Filipino healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The surge caused by the different COVID-19 variants in 2021 also led to increased levels of job burnout, making it the most prevalent concern of HCWs in Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. 17 Among the significant predictors of burnout of HCWs were long working hours, perceived high job risk, and inadequate personal protective equipment.…”

A year after COVID‐19: Its impact on nurses' psychological well‐being

“…Similarly, in South-East Asia, health care workers reported moderate anxiety, moderately severe depression and job burnout (Teo et al, 2022). Findings highlighted that working longer hours than usual perceived high job risk and inadequate personal protective equipment were associated with anxiety and job burnout, while working night shifts was associated with an increased risk of depression (Teo et al, 2022). It has also been reported that nurses who worked in the intensive care unit settings with higher risk of transmission of COVID-19 due to the need for more invasive procedures including suctioning of airway secretions may experience higher level of health anxiety (Jamshidian et al, 2018;Mokhtari et al, 2020).…”

“…In Turkey, nurses working in the emergency department reported high perceived stress due to the lack of staffing, resources and transmitting the virus (Çınar et al, 2021). Similarly, in South-East Asia, health care workers reported moderate anxiety, moderately severe depression and job burnout (Teo et al, 2022). Findings highlighted that working longer hours than usual perceived high job risk and inadequate personal protective equipment were associated with anxiety and job burnout, while working night shifts was associated with an increased risk of depression (Teo et al, 2022).…”