Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Nov 4, 2020
Date Accepted: Aug 17, 2021
Date Submitted to PubMed: Sep 3, 2021
High Work-related Stress and Anxiety Response to COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey Study in South Korea
ABSTRACT
Background:
Healthcare workers experienced severe psychological impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. It is important to establish a process of psychological assessment and interventions for healthcare workers affected by epidemics.
Objective:
We investigated the risk factors associated with the psychological impact of each healthcare worker group, to help optimize psychological interventions for healthcare workers in countries affected by COVID-19.
Methods:
Participants (N=1,783) from two hospitals in Korea, completed an online survey from 20-30 April 2020, with information on demographics, psychiatric history, Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics - 9 (SAVE-9), Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7) scale.
Results:
Among the 1,783 healthcare workers, compared to other healthcare workers, nursing professionals had significantly higher levels of depression, general anxiety, and virus-related anxiety symptoms. In the nursing professionals group, single workers reported more severe depressive symptoms than married workers, and junior (< 40 years old) workers reported more anxiety about the viral epidemic. Logistic regression analysis adjusted with age, sex, and work duration identified three factors as significantly associated with healthcare worker's depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10): being a nursing professional, single, and higher stress and anxiety to the viral infection (high SAVE-9 score).
Conclusions:
Psychological support and interventions for healthcare workers, especially nursing professionals, single, and high SAVE-9 level should be considered.
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