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Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Healthcare Workers Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriele d’Ettorre

    (Department of Occupational Medicine, Local Health Authority of Lecce, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Giancarlo Ceccarelli

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Letizia Santinelli

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Paolo Vassalini

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Pietro Innocenti

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesco Alessandri

    (Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Alexia E. Koukopoulos

    (Department of Human Neurosciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Alessandro Russo

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Gabriella d’Ettorre

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Tarsitani

    (Department of Human Neurosciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Prevention of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in healthcare workers (HCWs) facing the current COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge worldwide as HCWs are likely to experience acute and chronic, often unpredictable, occupational stressors leading to PTSS. This review aims to analyze the literature to discover which topics have been focused on and what the latest developments are in managing the occupational risk of PTSS in HCWs during the current pandemic. For the purpose of this review, we searched for publications in MEDLINE/Pubmed using selected keywords. The articles were reviewed and categorized into one or more of the following categories based on their subject matter: risk assessment, risk management, occurrence rates. A total of 16 publications matched our inclusion criteria. The topics discussed were: “Risk Assessment”, “Occurrence Rates”, and “Risk Management”. Young age, low work experience, female gender, heavy workload, working in unsafe settings, and lack of training and social support were found to be predictors of PTSS. This review’s findings showed the need for urgent interventions aimed at protecting HCWs from the psychological impact of traumatic events related to the pandemic and leading to PTSS; healthcare policies need to consider preventive and management strategies toward PTSS, and the related psychic sequelae, in HCWs.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriele d’Ettorre & Giancarlo Ceccarelli & Letizia Santinelli & Paolo Vassalini & Giuseppe Pietro Innocenti & Francesco Alessandri & Alexia E. Koukopoulos & Alessandro Russo & Gabriella d’Ettorre & L, 2021. "Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Healthcare Workers Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:601-:d:479094
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Nicola Magnavita & Paolo Maurizio Soave & Massimo Antonelli, 2022. "Treating Anti-Vax Patients, a New Occupational Stressor—Data from the 4th Wave of the Prospective Study of Intensivists and COVID-19 (PSIC)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-13, May.
    6. Natasha Li & Sarah R. Martin & Theodore W. Heyming & Chloe Knudsen-Robbins & Terence Sanger & Zeev N. Kain, 2022. "Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 Serology Testing and Pandemic Anxiety: A Study of Pediatric Healthcare Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-9, August.
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    8. Hsin-Ling Lee & Kerry S. Wilson & Colleen Bernstein & Nisha Naicker & Annalee Yassi & Jerry M. Spiegel, 2022. "Psychological Distress in South African Healthcare Workers Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Associations and Mitigating Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-20, August.
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    10. Giulia Foti & Giorgia Bondanini & Georgia Libera Finstad & Federico Alessio & Gabriele Giorgi, 2023. "The Relationship between Occupational Stress, Mental Health and COVID-19-Related Stress: Mediation Analysis Results," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-13, April.
    11. Michelle C. Engelbrecht & J. Christo Heunis & N. Gladys Kigozi, 2021. "Post-Traumatic Stress and Coping Strategies of South African Nurses during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-14, July.
    12. Caterina Primi & Monica Giuli & Emanuele Baroni & Vanessa Zurkirch & Matteo Galanti & Laura Belloni & Costanza Gori & Maria Anna Donati, 2023. "The Individual- and Organization-Related Stressors in Pandemic Scale for Healthcare Workers (IOSPS-HW): Development and Psychometric Properties of a New Instrument to Assess Individual and Organizatio," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-17, February.
    13. Mehran Shayganfard & Fateme Mahdavi & Mohammad Haghighi & Dena Sadeghi-Bahmani & Serge Brand, 2021. "Sources of Health Anxiety for Hospital Staff Working during the Covid-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-11, March.
    14. Lara Bellotti & Sara Zaniboni & Cristian Balducci & Gudela Grote, 2021. "Rapid Review on COVID-19, Work-Related Aspects, and Age Differences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-24, May.
    15. Rui She & Lijuan Li & Qian Yang & Jianyan Lin & Xiaoli Ye & Suliu Wu & Zhenggui Yang & Suzhen Guan & Jianxin Zhang & Rachel Hau Yin Ling & Joseph Tak Fai Lau, 2022. "Associations between COVID-19 Work-Related Stressors and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Chinese Doctors and Nurses: Application of Stress-Coping Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-15, May.
    16. Michela Gabelloni & Lorenzo Faggioni & Roberta Fusco & Federica De Muzio & Ginevra Danti & Francesca Grassi & Roberta Grassi & Pierpaolo Palumbo & Federico Bruno & Alessandra Borgheresi & Alessandra B, 2023. "Exploring Radiologists’ Burnout in the COVID-19 Era: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    17. Maria Karanikola & Meropi Mpouzika & Elizabeth Papathanassoglou & Katerina Kaikoushi & Anna Hatzioannou & Ioannis Leontiou & Chris Livadiotis & Nicos Christophorou & Andreas Chatzittofis, 2022. "Work-Related Traumatic Stress Response in Nurses Employed in COVID-19 Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-15, September.
    18. Cristina Ciuluvica (Neagu) & Giulio Gualdi & Marco Dal Canton & Fabrizio Fantini & Andrea Paradisi & Paolo Sbano & Marco Simonacci & Daniele Dusi & Gian Marco Vezzoni & Carmine D’Acunto & Maurizio Lom, 2021. "Mental Health Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic Long-Term Exposure in Italian Dermatologists," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-20, October.
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    20. Riccardo Serra & Cristian Borrazzo & Paolo Vassalini & Chiara Di Nicolantonio & Alexia E. Koukopoulos & Cecilia Tosato & Flavio Cherubini & Francesco Alessandri & Giancarlo Ceccarelli & Claudio Maria , 2022. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Trajectories the Year after COVID-19 Hospitalization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    21. Vanesa Ferreres-Galán & María Vicenta Navarro-Haro & Óscar Peris-Baquero & Silvia Guillén-Marín & Jordi de Luna-Hermoso & Jorge Osma, 2022. "Assessment of Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of a Unified Protocol Prevention Program to Train Emotional Regulation Skills in Female Nursing Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, May.
    22. Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei & Gaia Perego & Francesca Milano & Martina Mazzetti & Paola Taranto & Rossella Di Pierro & Chiara De Panfilis & Fabio Madeddu & Emanuele Preti, 2021. "The “Healthcare Workers’ Wellbeing (Benessere Operatori)” Project: A Picture of the Mental Health Conditions of Italian Healthcare Workers during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.

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