Worries and concerns among healthcare workers during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic: A web-based cross-sectional survey

Yuki Sahashi, Hirohisa Endo (), Tadafumi Sugimoto, Takeru Nabeta, Kimitaka Nishizaki, Atsushi Kikuchi, Shingo Matsumoto, Hiroyuki Sato, Tadahiro Goto, Kohei Hasegawa and Yuya Matsue
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Yuki Sahashi: Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine
Hirohisa Endo: Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine
Tadafumi Sugimoto: Mie University Hospital
Takeru Nabeta: Kitasato University School of Medicine
Kimitaka Nishizaki: Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine
Atsushi Kikuchi: Osaka General Medical Center
Shingo Matsumoto: Toho University Graduate School of Medicine
Hiroyuki Sato: Teine Keijinkai Hospital
Tadahiro Goto: TXP Medical Co. Ltd
Kohei Hasegawa: Harvard Medical School
Yuya Matsue: Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine

Palgrave Communications, 2021, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Healthcare workers (HCWs) treating and caring for patients with emerging infectious diseases often experience psychological distress. However, the psychological impact and behavior change of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among HCWs are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the worries and concerns of HCWs regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. In this cross-sectional survey, a web-based questionnaire was distributed among HCWs working in hospitals or clinics across Japanese medical facilities from April 20 to May 1, 2020. The questionnaire comprised items on demographics, worries and concerns, perceptions regarding the sufficiency of information, and behavioral changes pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 4386 HCWs completed the survey; 1648 (64.7%) were aged 30–39 years, 2379 (54.2%) were male, and 782 (18.1%) were frontline HCWs, directly caring for patients with COVID-19 on a daily basis. 3500 HCWs (79.8%) indicated that they were seriously worried about the pandemic. The most frequent concern was the consequence of becoming infected on their family, work, and society (87.4%). Additionally, the majority (55.5%) had restricted social contact and almost all HCWs endorsed a shortage in personal protective equipment (median, 8/9 (interquartile range; 7–9) on a Likert scale). There was no significant difference in the degree of worry between frontline and non-frontline HCWs (8/9 (7–9) vs. 8/9 (7–9), p = 0.25). Frontline HCWs, compared to non-frontline HCWs, were more likely to have the need to avoid contact with families and friends (24.8% vs. 17.8%, p

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-021-00716-x

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