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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers

Author

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  • Andreas Chatzittofis

    (Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus
    Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden)

  • Maria Karanikola

    (Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3041, Cyprus)

  • Kyriaki Michailidou

    (Biostatistics Unit, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, Nicosia 1683, Cyprus)

  • Anastasia Constantinidou

    (Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus)

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a great impact on healthcare workers (HCWs) that includes negative mental health outcomes, such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, we report on mental health outcomes among HCWs in Cyprus. Data were collected between 3 May and 27 May 2020, with the use of an online questionnaire that included demographics (sex, age, occupation, education, work sector, years of work experience), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) which assesses depressive symptoms, the Impact of Events Scale Revised (IES-R), which measures post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and the-10 item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) which quantifies stress responses. Participants (42% physicians, 24% nurses, 18% physiotherapists, 16% classified as “other”) were 58% of female gender and aged 21–76. A total of 79 (18.6%) and 62 HCWs (14.6%) reported clinically significant depressive (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and post-traumatic stress (IES-R > 33) symptoms respectively. Nurses were more likely than physicians to suffer from depression (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.7 (1.06–2.73); p = 0.035) and PTSD (adjusted prevalence ratio 2.51 (1.49–4.23); p = 0.001). Even in a country with a rather low spread of the COVID-19, such as Cyprus, HCWs reported a substantial mental health burden, with nurses reporting increased depressive and PTSD symptoms compared to other HCWs.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Chatzittofis & Maria Karanikola & Kyriaki Michailidou & Anastasia Constantinidou, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-8, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1435-:d:492756
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Frédéric Dutheil & Claire Aubert & Bruno Pereira & Michael Dambrun & Fares Moustafa & Martial Mermillod & Julien S Baker & Marion Trousselard & François-Xavier Lesage & Valentin Navel, 2019. "Suicide among physicians and health-care workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(12), pages 1-28, December.
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    3. Yushi Lu & Zhi Li & Yuting Fan & Jin Wang & Tian Zhong & Ling Wang & Ying Xiao & Dongmei Zhang & Qingsong Chen & Xi Yu, 2022. "The Mediating Role of Cumulative Fatigue on the Association between Occupational Stress and Depressive Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study among 1327 Chinese Primary Healthcare Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Celina Silvia Stafie & Lenuta Profire & Maria Manuela Apostol & Irina Iuliana Costache, 2021. "The Professional and Psycho-Emotional Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Care—A Romanian GPs’ Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
    5. Ieva Norkiene & Lina Jovarauskaite & Monika Kvedaraite & Encarl Uppal & Mandeep Kaur Phull & Heidi Chander & Kathryn Halford & Evaldas Kazlauskas, 2021. "‘Should I Stay, or Should I Go?’ Psychological Distress Predicts Career Change Ideation among Intensive Care Staff in Lithuania and the UK Amid COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-9, March.
    6. Andrea Aguglia & Andrea Amerio & Alessandra Costanza & Nicolò Parodi & Francesco Copello & Gianluca Serafini & Mario Amore, 2021. "Hopelessness and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Any Role for Mediating Variables?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-10, June.
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    8. Ghaith Salameh & Debbi Marais & Rawan Khoury, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health among the Population in Jordan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-21, July.
    9. Lee-Ling Huang & Hsin-Cheng Chung & Li-Ling Huang & Shu-Yuan Cheng & Chuan-Hsiung Lin & Te-Feng Yeh, 2023. "Mental Health of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan: The First Wave Outbreak Occurred 1 Year Later Than in Other Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, February.
    10. 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.
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