Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in India: A Mixed-methods Systematic Review

Edlin Glane Mathias; D S Anupama; Tenzin Phagdol; Baby S Nayak; Ravishankar Nagaraja; Kelly Dickson; Mukdarut Bangpan; Gopichandran Lakshmanan; Preethy D'Souza

doi:10.5001/omj.2023.111

Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in India: A Mixed-methods Systematic Review

Oman Med J. 2023 Sep 28;38(5):e544. doi: 10.5001/omj.2023.111. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Edlin Glane Mathias¹, D S Anupama², Tenzin Phagdol³, Baby S Nayak³, Ravishankar Nagaraja⁴, Kelly Dickson⁵, Mukdarut Bangpan⁵, Gopichandran Lakshmanan⁶, Preethy D'Souza⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Information, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
² Department of Global Health Governance, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
³ Department of Child Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
⁴ Department of Biostatistics, Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India.
⁵ Social Research Institute, Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK.
⁶ Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Abstract

Healthcare workers (HCWs) experienced significant mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review aimed to comprehensively assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of HCWs in India. We conducted a mixed-methods systematic review, which adopts a results-based convergent approach that incorporates quantitative and qualitative data. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in relevant databases: PubMed-Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, and ProQuest. All available full-text studies in the English language that assessed the mental health outcomes (anxiety, stress, and depression) of HCWs during the pandemic and published until 28 February 2022 were included. A total of 31 studies were included in this review (27 quantitative studies, three qualitative studies, and one mixed-method study). The pooled prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among HCWs in India was 32.96%, 29.49%, and 33.47%, respectively. Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings using social determinants of health framework resulted in various contributing factors and coping strategies. There is a need for a supportive work environment, mental health support, and mental health policies for HCWs in India.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19 Pandemic; Depression; Healthcare Workers; India; Mental Health; Stress.

Publication types

Review