IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i11p6101-d569487.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Mental Well-Being of Health Care Workers during the Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Study in Poland

Author

Listed:
  • Mateusz Babicki

    (Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-141 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Ilona Szewczykowska

    (Intensive Care Unit, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska Street 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas

    (Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-141 Wroclaw, Poland)

Abstract

Introduction: The current epidemiological situation has quickly led to several changes in the daily functioning of people around the world, especially among medical personnel, who in this difficult period were burdened with new professional duties, which significantly affects their mental health. Materials: This study aims to assess the mental health of health professionals at a critical point in their workload, to compare the results with those the general population, and to explore the potential determinants affecting it. The CAWI survey includes a sociodemographic section, work experience and a standardised psychometric tool (GHQ-28). Data were collected during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland (3–29 November 2020), which had the highest mortality rates and SARS-CoV-2 morbidity rates, as well as during the period of a significant increase in deaths, compared to the corresponding pre-pandemic period. Results: A total of 2150 surveys were eligible for analysis. Among them, 848 (39.4%) were active health professionals. In the analysis of the scores of the GHQ-28 scale and its sub-scales, evaluating anxiety/insomnia and somatic symptoms, medical workers scored significantly higher scores than non-medical professions ( p < 0.001). Frontline medical workers ( p < 0.001) and those who were forcibly seconded to work with COVID-19-infected patients ( p = 0.011) achieved significantly higher GHQ-28 scores. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental deterioration among health professionals, especially among those directly working with SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and those who were forcibly seconded to work with such patients. To mitigate the effects of the pandemic, appropriate psychological care for medical personnel needs to be implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Mateusz Babicki & Ilona Szewczykowska & Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas, 2021. "The Mental Well-Being of Health Care Workers during the Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Study in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:6101-:d:569487
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/6101/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/6101/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mateusz Babicki & Ilona Szewczykowska & Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas, 2021. "Mental Health in the Era of the Second Wave of SARS-CoV-2: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on an Online Survey among Online Respondents in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Tiziana Ramaci & Massimiliano Barattucci & Caterina Ledda & Venerando Rapisarda, 2020. "Social Stigma during COVID-19 and its Impact on HCWs Outcomes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-13, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maysa H. Almomani & Wejdan A. Khater & Laila M. Akhu-Zaheya & Aladeen Alloubani & Safa A. AlAshram & Mohammed Azab & Adeeb K. Al-malkawi, 2022. "Nurses’ Experiences of Caring for Patients with COVID-19: A Qualitative Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, December.
    2. Kritika Poudel & Pramod Subedi, 2020. "Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on socioeconomic and mental health aspects in Nepal," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(8), pages 748-755, December.
    3. Estera Twardowska-Staszek & Irmina Rostek & Krzysztof Biel & Anna Seredyńska, 2021. "Predictors of Positive and Negative Emotions Experienced by Poles during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Ishtiaq Ahmad & Gaku Masuda & Sugishita Tomohiko & Chaudhry Ahmed Shabbir, 2022. "Living Well as a Muslim through the Pandemic Era—A Qualitative Study in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-15, May.
    5. Abduruhman Fahad Alajmi & Hmoud Salem Al-Olimat & Reham Abu Ghaboush & Nada A. Al Buniaian, 2022. "Social Avoidance and Stigma Among Healthcare Workers Serving COVID-19 Patients in Saudi Arabia," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    6. Rodolfo Buselli & Sigrid Baldanzi & Martina Corsi & Martina Chiumiento & Elena Del Lupo & Claudia Carmassi & Liliana Dell’Osso & Alfonso Cristaudo, 2020. "Psychological Care of Health Workers during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy: Preliminary Report of an Occupational Health Department (AOUP) Responsible for Monitoring Hospital Staff Condition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, June.
    7. Marinella Coco & Claudia Savia Guerrera & Giuseppe Santisi & Febronia Riggio & Roberta Grasso & Donatella Di Corrado & Santo Di Nuovo & Tiziana Ramaci, 2021. "Psychosocial Impact and Role of Resilience on Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-9, June.
    8. Tiziana Ramaci & Stefano Pagliaro & Manuel Teresi & Massimiliano Barattucci, 2021. "Job Demands and Negative Outcomes after the Lockdown: The Moderating Role of Stigma towards Italian Supermarket Workers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-14, July.
    9. Karimeh Alnuaimi & Ali Alshraifeen, 2023. "Familial and Social Stressors Among Jordanian Midwives Amid the COVID-19 Crisis," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.
    10. Monica Molino & Emanuela Ingusci & Fulvio Signore & Amelia Manuti & Maria Luisa Giancaspro & Vincenzo Russo & Margherita Zito & Claudio G. Cortese, 2020. "Wellbeing Costs of Technology Use during Covid-19 Remote Working: An Investigation Using the Italian Translation of the Technostress Creators Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, July.
    11. Alexandra-Camelia Marian-Potra & Ana-Maria Pop & Gheorghe-Gavrilă Hognogi & Júlia A. Nagy, 2022. "Resilience of the Romanian Independent Cultural Sector under COVID-19 Pandemic Using the Grounded Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-22, April.
    12. Monia Vagni & Tiziana Maiorano & Valeria Giostra & Daniela Pajardi, 2020. "Hardiness, Stress and Secondary Trauma in Italian Healthcare and Emergency Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-16, July.
    13. Natascha Mojtahedzadeh & Felix Alexander Neumann & Elisabeth Rohwer & Albert Nienhaus & Matthias Augustin & Volker Harth & Birgit-Christiane Zyriax & Stefanie Mache, 2021. "The Health Behaviour of German Outpatient Caregivers in Relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-30, August.
    14. Adis Puška & Željko Stević & Dragan Pamučar, 2022. "Evaluation and selection of healthcare waste incinerators using extended sustainability criteria and multi-criteria analysis methods," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(9), pages 11195-11225, September.
    15. Alejandro Salazar & Jenifer Palomo-Osuna & Helena de Sola & Jose A. Moral-Munoz & María Dueñas & Inmaculada Failde, 2021. "Psychological Impact of the Lockdown Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in University Workers: Factors Related to Stress, Anxiety, and Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-16, April.
    16. Agata Chudzicka-Czupała & Soon-Kiat Chiang & Damian Grabowski & Marta Żywiołek-Szeja & Matthew Quek & Bartosz Pudełek & Kayla Teopiz & Roger Ho & Roger S. McIntyre, 2022. "Predictors of Psychological Distress across Three Time Periods during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-16, November.
    17. Kacper Wróbel & Anna Justyna Milewska & Michał Marczak & Remigiusz Kozłowski, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Composition of Dietary Supplements and Functional Foods Notified in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-26, November.
    18. Alexey I. Borovkov & Marina V. Bolsunovskaya & Aleksei M. Gintciak, 2022. "Intelligent Data Analysis for Infection Spread Prediction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-11, February.
    19. Nelson Mauro Maldonato & Mario Bottone & Alessandro Chiodi & Grazia Isabella Continisio & Raffaella De Falco & Marzia Duval & Benedetta Muzii & Gerarda Siani & Paolo Valerio & Roberto Vitelli & Cristi, 2020. "A Mental Health First Aid Service in an Italian University Public Hospital during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-12, May.
    20. Mohd Noor Norhayati & Ruhana Che Yusof & Mohd Yacob Azman, 2021. "Prevalence of Psychological Impacts on Healthcare Providers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Asia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-15, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:6101-:d:569487. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.