Risk Perception Related to COVID-19 and Future Affective Responses Among Healthcare Workers in Switzerland: A Mixed-Methods Longitudinal Study

• Published in: International journal of public health Vol. 67; p. 1604517
• Main Authors: Grazioli, Véronique S., Tzartzas, Konstantinos, Blaser, Jérémie, Graells, Madison, Schmutz, Elodie, Petitgenet, Isabelle, Favrat, Bernard, Zozaya, Javier Sanchis, Kokkinakis, Ioannis, Marion-Veyron, Regis, Bodenmann, Patrick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A 02.09.2022
• Subjects: anxiety; burnout; depression; healthcare workers; Public Health Archive; risk perceptions related to COVID-19; secondary traumatic stress
• ISSN: 1661-8564; 1661-8556; 1661-8564
• DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604517

Objectives: Whereas early findings suggest that risk perceptions related to COVID-19 affect psychological well-being in healthcare workers (HCWs), the temporal associations between these variables need to be clarified and HCWs lived experience further explored. This study proposes a mixed evaluation of COVID-19-related risk perception and affective responses among HCWs. Methods: A longitudinal mixed-method study was conducted. HCWs ( N = 138) completed measures of COVID-19 risk perceptions, depression, anxiety, burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) at baseline and 6 months later. A subsample ( n = 20) participated in semi-structured interviews exploring both risk perceptions and affective responses. Results: Main quantitative findings showed positive associations between worry to contaminate others and depression ( IRR = 1.04, p < 0.05), anxiety ( IRR = 1.03, p < 0.01), STS ( b = 0.3, p < 0.05), and perceptions of lacking protection ( IRR = 1.04, p < 0.05) with anxiety scores. Four themes emerged from the thematic content analysis: 1) life was turned upside down; 2) skills were put in quarantine; 3) dealing with patient discomfort; 4) balance to be found between protection and restrictions. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance to develop tailored interventions, such as group discussion sessions, to optimize risk perception and help manage uncertainty.