Psychological impact of COVID-19 on health-care workers: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Mohammad Mousavi; Najmeh Ahmadi; Hooria Seyedhosseini Ghaheh; Atefeh Vaezi; Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard

doi:10.4103/jrms.JRMS_1046_20

Psychological impact of COVID-19 on health-care workers: A multicenter cross-sectional study

J Res Med Sci. 2021 Sep 30:26:77. doi: 10.4103/jrms.JRMS_1046_20. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Mohammad Mousavi¹, Najmeh Ahmadi², Hooria Seyedhosseini Ghaheh³, Atefeh Vaezi¹, Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard⁴

Affiliations

¹ Applied Physiology Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
² Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
³ Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
⁴ Department of Physiology, Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Health-care workers (HCWs) as frontline soldiers are involved in the war against COVID-19. Not only their protection from COVID-19 is important but also their mental health is a concern. This study aimed to measure the psychological distress among HCWs in the time of COVID-19 in Isfahan, Iran.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the 2^nd month of the spread of COVID-19 in Isfahan, Iran (March 16 to April 3). A total of 321 HCWs participated in an online survey and answered the General Health Questionnaire, the Insomnia Severity Index, and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. t-test and ANOVA were used for comparing variables between groups. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the predictive factors of psychological distress.

Results: About 34% of our HCWs suffer from some levels of psychological distress. The result of multiple linear regression (R ²: 0.41) shows that the predictive variables with the highest value were insomnia, working as a medical resident, and lack of social support (standardized coefficient of beta: 0.51, 0.25, and 0.16, respectively; P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The result of our study shows that about one-third of HCWs in COVID-19 special hospitals have some psychological problems. Being a medical resident, suffering from insomnia, and lack of social support are predictive variables.

Keywords: COVID-19; health personnel; mental health; public health.