How COVID-19 Affected Healthcare Workers in the Hospital Locked Down due to Early COVID-19 Cases in Korea

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 36; no. 47; pp. e325 - 11
• Main Authors: Lee, Hyeon-Ah, Ahn, Myung Hee, Byun, Seonjeong, Lee, Hae-Kook, Kweon, Yong-Sil, Chung, Seockhoon, Shin, Yong-Wook, Lee, Kyoung-Uk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 06.12.2021; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety - epidemiology; Burnout, Professional - epidemiology; Communicable Disease Control; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - psychology; Depression - epidemiology; Female; Health Personnel; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Occupational Stress - epidemiology; Original; Patient Health Questionnaire; Psychological Distress; Quarantine; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; SARS-CoV-2; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; 의학일반; Republic of Korea; COVID-19; Psychological Distress; Healthcare Workers; Social Discrimination
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/JKMS.2021.36.E325

The healthcare workers (HCWs) were exposed to never-experienced psychological distress during the early stage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of HCWs during the hospital lockdown period due to mass healthcare-associated infection during the early spread of COVID-19. A real-time online survey was conducted between April 14-18, 2020 among HCWs who worked at the university hospital where COVID-19 was confirmed in a patient, and the hospital was shut down for 3 weeks. Along with demographic variables and work-related information, psychological distress was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey scale, and the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9. The HCWs working in the cohort ward and those who have experienced social discrimination had significantly higher level of depression (PHQ-9 score; 5.24 ± 4.48 vs. 4.15 ± 4.38; < 0.01 and 5.89 ± 4.78 vs. 3.25 ± 3.77; < 0.001, respectively) and anxiety (GAD-7 score; 3.69 ± 3.68 vs. 2.87 ± 3.73; < 0.05 and 4.20 ± 4.22 vs. 2.17 ± 3.06; < 0.001, respectively) compared to other HCWs. Worries regarding the peer relationship and the skepticism about job were associated with depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.79; < 0.05 and OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.31-2.17; < 0.001, respectively) and anxiety (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.21-2.49; < 0.01 and OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.09-2.17; < 0.05, respectively), while fear of infection or worsening of health was not. Path analysis showed that work-related stress associated with the viral epidemic rather than anxiety about the viral epidemic mainly contributed to depression. The present observational study indicates that mental health problems of HCWs exposed to COVID-19 are associated with distress in work and social relationship. Early intervention programs focusing on these factors are necessary.