Ahmed Ezzat1, Yufei Li2, Josephine Holt3, Matthieu Komorowski4. 1. General Surgery Registrar, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, and Honorary Research Clinical Fellow, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London. 2. Postgraduate Fellow, Department of Health Service and Population Research, King's College London, London. 3. Foundation Doctor, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green, Birmingham. 4. Clinical Senior Lecturer, Department of Surgery and Cancer, St Mary's Campus, and Consultant in Intensive Care, Intensive Care Unit, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although the mental health burden in healthcare workers caused by COVID-19 has gained increasing attention both within the profession and through public opinion, there has been a lack of data describing their experience; specifically, the mental wellbeing of healthcare workers in the intensive care unit (ICU), including those redeployed. AIMS: The authors aimed to compare the mental health status of ICU healthcare workers (physicians, nurses and allied health professionals) affected by various factors during the COVID-19 pandemic; and highlight to policymakers areas of staff vulnerabilities in order to improve wellbeing strategies within healthcare systems. METHODS: An online survey using three validated scales was conducted in France, the UK, Italy, Mainland China, Taiwan, Egypt and Belgium. FINDINGS: The proportion of respondents who screened positive on the three scales across the countries was 16-49% for depression, 60-86% for insomnia and 17-35% for post-traumatic stress disorder. The authors also identified an increase in the scores with longer time spent in personal protective equipment, female gender, advancing age and redeployed status. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of mental disorders among ICU staff during the COVID-19 crisis should inform local and national wellbeing policies.
BACKGROUND: Although the mental health burden in healthcare workers caused by COVID-19 has gained increasing attention both within the profession and through public opinion, there has been a lack of data describing their experience; specifically, the mental wellbeing of healthcare workers in the intensive care unit (ICU), including those redeployed. AIMS: The authors aimed to compare the mental health status of ICU healthcare workers (physicians, nurses and allied health professionals) affected by various factors during the COVID-19 pandemic; and highlight to policymakers areas of staff vulnerabilities in order to improve wellbeing strategies within healthcare systems. METHODS: An online survey using three validated scales was conducted in France, the UK, Italy, Mainland China, Taiwan, Egypt and Belgium. FINDINGS: The proportion of respondents who screened positive on the three scales across the countries was 16-49% for depression, 60-86% for insomnia and 17-35% for post-traumatic stress disorder. The authors also identified an increase in the scores with longer time spent in personal protective equipment, female gender, advancing age and redeployed status. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of mental disorders among ICU staff during the COVID-19 crisis should inform local and national wellbeing policies.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; Coronavirus; Healthcare workers; Intensive care; Mental health
Authors: Louise Caroline Stayt; Clair Merriman; Suzanne Bench; Ann M Price; Sarah Vollam; Helen Walthall; Nicki Credland; Karin Gerber; Vid Calovski Journal: J Adv Nurs Date: 2022-08-20 Impact factor: 3.057