Mental well-being of healthcare workers in 2 hospital districts during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland: a cross-sectional study

• Authors: Noora Rantanen , Johannes Lieslehto , Lotta-Maria A. Oksanen , Sampo A. Oksanen , Veli-Jukka Anttila , Lasse Lehtonen , Ahmed Geneid , Enni Sanmark

Abstracts

EN

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unseen pressure on healthcare systems in many countries, jeopardizing the mental well-being of healthcare workers. The authors aimed to assess the mental well-being of Finnish healthcare workers from 2 hospital districts (Helsinki University Hospital [HUS] and Social and Health Services in Kymenlaakso [Kymsote]) with differing COVID-19 incidence rates during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. Material and Methods A total number of 996 healthcare workers (HUS N = 862, Kymsote N = 134) participated in this prospectively conducted survey study during summer 2020. Symptom criteria of self-reported mental health symptoms followed ICD-10 classification, excluding duration criteria. Participants were divided into symptom categories “often/sometimes”, and “rarely/never”. These groups were compared to sociodemographic factors and factors related to work, workload, and well-being. Results The degree of mental health symptoms did not differ between the 2 healthcare districts despite differing COVID-19 incidences (p = 1). The authors observed a significant relationship between self-reported diagnostic mental health symptoms and experiences of insufficient instructions for protection against COVID-19 (in HUS cohort p < 0.001), insufficient recovery from work (p < 0.001), and subjective increased workload (p < 0.001). Conclusions The authors’ results show the importance of well-planned and sufficient instructions for protection from SARS-CoV-2 for healthcare workers, indicating their need to feel safe and protected at work. The workload of healthcare workers should be carefully monitored to keep it moderate and ensure sufficient recovery. Sufficient control of the epidemic to keep the burden of the healthcare system low is vital for healthcare workers’ well-being.

Keywords

EN

major depressive disorder; workload; post-traumatic stress disorder; COVID-19; mental health; health personnel

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2022
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 707-718

Dates

published

2022

Contributors

author

Noora Rantanen

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland (Clinical Research Institute HUCH)

author

Johannes Lieslehto

• University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland (Niuvanniemi Hospital)

author

Lotta-Maria A. Oksanen

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland (Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Phoniatrics – Head and Neck Surgery)

author

Sampo A. Oksanen

• BeeHealthy, Helsinki, Finland

author

Veli-Jukka Anttila

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland (HUS Inflammation Center)

author

Lasse Lehtonen

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland (HUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB)

author

Ahmed Geneid

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland (Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Phoniatrics – Head and Neck Surgery)

author

Enni Sanmark

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Faculty of Medicine)
• Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland (Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Phoniatrics – Head and Neck Surgery)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01940

Biblioteka Nauki

2152977