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An Umbrella Review of the Work and Health Impacts of Working in an Epidemic/Pandemic Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan Fan

    (School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
    Joint authorship.)

  • Sonja Senthanar

    (School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
    Joint authorship.)

  • Robert A. Macpherson

    (School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada)

  • Kimberly Sharpe

    (School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada)

  • Cheryl E. Peters

    (Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Cancer Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB T2S 3C3, Canada
    CAREX Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3, Canada)

  • Mieke Koehoorn

    (School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada)

  • Christopher B. McLeod

    (School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
    Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1S5, Canada)

Abstract

This umbrella review of reviews examined the evidence on the work and health impacts of working in an epidemic/pandemic environment, factors associated with these impacts, and risk mitigation or intervention strategies that address these factors. We examined review articles published in MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Embase between 2000 and 2020. Data extracted from the included reviews were analyzed using a narrative synthesis. The search yielded 1524 unique citations, of which 31 were included. Included studies were focused on health care workers and the risk of infection to COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses, mental health outcomes, and health care workers’ willingness to respond during a public health event. Reviews identified a variety of individual, social, and organizational factors associated with these work and health outcomes as well as risk mitigation strategies that addressed study outcomes. Only a few reviews examined intervention strategies in the workplace such as physical distancing and quarantine, and none included long-term outcomes of exposure or work during an epidemic/pandemic. Findings suggest a number of critical research and evidence gaps, including the need for reviews on occupational groups potentially exposed to or impacted by the negative work and health effects of COVID-19 in addition to health care workers, the long-term consequences of transitioning to the post-COVID-19 economy on work and health, and research with an equity or social determinants of health lens.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Fan & Sonja Senthanar & Robert A. Macpherson & Kimberly Sharpe & Cheryl E. Peters & Mieke Koehoorn & Christopher B. McLeod, 2021. "An Umbrella Review of the Work and Health Impacts of Working in an Epidemic/Pandemic Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6828-:d:582134
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Saranrat Sadoyu & Kaniz Afroz Tanni & Nontaporn Punrum & Sobhon Paengtrai & Warittakorn Kategaew & Nattiwat Promchit & Nai Ming Lai & Ammarin Thakkinstian & Surachat Ngorsuraches & Mukdarut Bangpan & , 2022. "Methodological approaches for assessing certainty of the evidence in umbrella reviews: A scoping review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(6), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Mariela Loreto Lara-Cabrera & Moisés Betancort & C. Amparo Muñoz-Rubilar & Natalia Rodríguez Novo & Carlos De las Cuevas, 2021. "The Mediating Role of Resilience in the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-10, September.
    3. Anna Nyberg & Kristiina Rajaleid & Ingrid Demmelmaier, 2022. "The Work Environment during Coronavirus Epidemics and Pandemics: A Systematic Review of Studies Using Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed-Methods Designs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-48, June.

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