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Annals of Intensive Care
Published in: Annals of Intensive Care 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Mood Disorders | Research

Mental health outcomes of ICU and non-ICU healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Hannah Wozniak, Lamyae Benzakour, Grégory Moullec, Niccolò Buetti, Alice Nguyen, Sandrine Corbaz, Pauline Roos, Laure Vieux, Jean-Claude Suard, Rafaël Weissbrodt, Jérôme Pugin, Jacques A. Pralong, Sara Cereghetti

Published in: Annals of Intensive Care | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Intensive care workers are known for their stressful work environment and for a high prevalence of mental health outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mental health, well-being and changes in lifestyle among intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare workers (HCW) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare these results with those of HCW in other hospital units. Another objective was to understand which associated factors aggravate their mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey collected socio-demographic data, lifestyle changes and mental health evaluations as assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 items (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 items (PHQ-9), the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) and the World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) from the 28th May to 7th July 2020. The study was carried out at Geneva University Hospitals, a group of eight public hospitals in Switzerland. ICU HCW were analyzed for mental health outcomes and lifestyles changes and then compared to non-ICU HCW. A series of linear regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated with mental health scores.

Results

A total of 3461 HCW were included in the study, with 352 ICU HCW. Among ICU HCW, 145 (41%) showed low well-being, 162 (46%) symptoms of anxiety, 163 (46%) symptoms of depression and 76 (22%) had peritraumatic distress. The mean scores of GAD-7, PHQ-9 and WHO-5 were worse in ICU HCW than in non-ICU HCW (p < 0.01). Working in the ICU rather than in other departments resulted in a change of eating habits, sleeping patterns and alcohol consumption (p < 0.01). Being a woman, the fear of catching and transmitting COVID-19, anxiety of working with COVID-19 patients, work overload, eating and sleeping disorders as well as increased alcohol consumption were associated with worse mental health outcomes.

Conclusion

This study confirms the suspicion of a high prevalence of anxiety, depression, peritraumatic distress and low well-being during the first COVID-19 wave among HCW, especially among ICU HCW. This allows for the identification of associated risk factors. Long-term psychological follow-up should be considered for HCW.
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Metadata
Title
Mental health outcomes of ICU and non-ICU healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak: a cross-sectional study
Authors
Hannah Wozniak
Lamyae Benzakour
Grégory Moullec
Niccolò Buetti
Alice Nguyen
Sandrine Corbaz
Pauline Roos
Laure Vieux
Jean-Claude Suard
Rafaël Weissbrodt
Jérôme Pugin
Jacques A. Pralong
Sara Cereghetti
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Annals of Intensive Care / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2110-5820
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-021-00900-x

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